(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 26 - Gas and green hydrogen deals were among the important accords signed by visiting Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Premier Mario Draghi in Rome Thursday.
    The accords also included agreements on the exchange of financial information, on cultural cooperation, micro-businesses and tourism.
    Algerian energy giant Sonatrach and Italian fuels giant Eni are set to sign a memorandum of understanding to develop gas fields and green hydrogen in Algeria.
    The accord, a note said, will enable the groups to assess the gas potential and development opportunities of some fields already discovered by Sonatrach, with an expected volume of gas production of around three billion cubic metres a year through the Transmed pipeline.
    President Sergio Matteralla thanked his opposite number and said Algeria was one of Italy's strategic partners.
    Italy has been trying to wean itself off Russian gas, which currently accounts for 40% of total gas imports.
    The government had "moved rapidly" to diversify suppliers by scrambling to set up alternatives with countries like Algeria, Angola, Congo, Libya, Egypt and Mozambique, Draghi said recently.
    photo: Tebboune with Mattarella (ANSA).