Carbon capture pilot project: 10 million shrubs to be planted

Carbon capture pilot project: 10 million shrubs to be planted

ALGIERS — The national company Sonatrach, in partnership with the General Directorate of Forests (DGF), will launch a pilot project to plant 10 million shrubs across 10,000 to 13,000 hectares, with a view to reducing the carbon footprint, as announced by Abdelkrim Ouamer, Sonatrach’s central director of HSE (health, safety and environment), on Monday in Algiers.

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In an interview with the national radio, Ouamer outlined how this pilot project is part of Sonatrach’s climate strategy, which aims to plant over 420 million trees over 560,000 hectares, with an estimated budget of $1 billion.

The DGF will conduct a feasibility study to determine suitable tree species and pinpoint planting sites within national forests. As per Ouamer, part of this pilot project will be integrated into the green dam revival program.

He underscored that Sonatrach’s commitment to combating climate change aligns with Algeria’s international commitments, pointing out that the project to plant more than 400 million shrubs also aims to generate jobs.

This project has an environmental dimension, aiming to reduce the impacts of energy activities on the environment while also leveraging available carbon credits to back such initiatives, he added.

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