Algeria and Italy further strengthened their energy relations Monday, concluding two agreements on emissions reduction, just as Algeirs' relations worsen with Moscow . 

The Italian energy giant Eni signed two agreements related to emissions reduction with Algeria’s state-owned energy company Sonatrach. The two will work together to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane gases. The agreements specifically related to carbon capture, green hydrogen, energy security and other unspecified forms of renewable energy, Eni said in a press release. 

The deals were signed during Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Algeria, where she met with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. Their talks focused largely on gas, but Tebboune also said the two countries want to explore other areas of cooperation. Algerian and Italian entities additionally signed cooperation memorandums on industry and space, according to The Associated Press. 

Why it matters: Italy looked to Algeria last year after European countries decided to reduce their dependence on Russian gas in response to the invasion of Ukraine. Last April, Sonatrach signed a deal with Eni that boosted Algerian gas exports to Italy via the TransMed pipeline.