2023-07-24 18:30:02
ALGIERS- The Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, affirmed, Monday in Algiers, that Algeria aims to become a flagship pole in terms of energy production, expressing the efforts made to reach a “significant level” in the production of solar energy and green hydrogen.
Algeria aims to become a “reliable country” in the production and supply of electrical energy, including green energy, like its production and supply of natural gas, said Mr. Arkab during a press conference, held on the sidelines of the launch of the bid opening operation following the national and international call for tenders for the project to produce 2,000 megawatts from photovoltaic solar power plants.
Algeria, “according to confirmations from our European partners, is a reliable country in terms of natural gas production, and we are betting on the same objective with regard to electricity”, he argued.
And to add “We want to become a supplier of green energy to neighboring countries and to Europe, in the sense that the main objective is now the development of energy in Algeria, and the domiciliation of all production equipment”.
He also noted the importance of involving Algeria’s partners “among friendly and brotherly countries” in this operation, so as to hoist our country into a “flagship pole in the production of energy”.
Recalling that 700 million Africans live without electricity, the Minister considered that the strengthening by Algeria of its production and the mastery of technologies would certainly benefit African countries, and precisely neighboring countries, particularly in terms of energy production.
The Minister also stressed that Algeria currently produces “an enormous rate” of electricity estimated at 25,000 megawatts (MW) and that it aims to reach “a significant level” in the production of solar energy and green hydrogen, able to secure its place in “the first ranks” in terms of electricity production.
In this context, he cited a program of 15,000 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energies which will be carried out by Sonelgaz through more than 40 wilayas.
Mr. Arkab said that electricity production in Algeria will be revised upwards after the entry into production of photovoltaic solar power plants with a total power of 3,000 MW, but also after that of the two power plants with the combined cycle (gas and steam) in Mostaganem and Aïn Oussara (Djelfa) with a power of 1,200 MW each, and this at the end of 2024.
Regarding the new consumption records recorded at the national level in July due to the heat wave, Mr. Arkab indicated that Algeria enjoyed an abundance in electricity production, allowing it to cope with this consumption peak, noting that the problem arises in the transport and delivery of electricity in these “unusual” climatic conditions.
“Temperatures that exceed 45 degrees impact equipment,” he argued, explaining that this was the case for some damaged equipment that did not cause a stoppage in production facilities.
Mr. Arkab welcomed the “considerable efforts” made by Sonelgaz to ensure the energy supply, given the “difficulty” faced by several countries due to the heat wave.
In this context, the Minister mentioned “an important and rapid operation” that Sonelgaz will carry out in order to strengthen the electricity network and adapt it to exceptional climatic conditions, affirming that this operation will be “immediately” carried out by the Company.
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