ALGIERS – The Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies, Mourad Adjal, affirmed on Monday in Algiers that the development of renewable energies to strengthen their share in the national energy mix was among the priorities of the public authorities, stressing the need to achieve a balanced energy mix mobilizing all available resources.
During a hearing before the Finance and Budget Committee of the National People's Assembly (APN), dedicated to the sector's budget included in the 2026 Finance Bill, in the presence of the Minister of Relations with Parliament, Nadjiba Djilali, and under the chairmanship of Mohamed Benhachem, Chairman of the Committee, the Minister specified that "the development of new and renewable energies as well as energy efficiency were among the priorities of the national energy strategy," emphasizing that the new organization of the sector will allow the Ministry to focus its efforts on accelerating the achievement of the set objectives.
These objectives aim to "diversify energy resources by ensuring a balanced energy mix that utilizes all available sources, in particular by optimally increasing the share of new and renewable energies," the minister added.
In this context, Mr. Adjal recalled the project to produce 15,000 MW of renewable energy by 2035, the first phase of which, with a capacity of 3,200 MW, is being carried out across 14 wilayas, in parallel with preparations for the launch of an operation to connect "remote areas to the electricity grid, particularly in the south, via individual solar systems and off-grid photovoltaic power plants".
The minister noted that this program will, in addition to saving gas, "develop an industry throughout the value chain, stimulate the momentum of green hydrogen, export electricity produced from renewable sources and reduce the carbon footprint."
Regarding the electricity bill subsidy for citizens in the southern wilayas and three wilayas of the High Plateaus (Djelfa, El Bayadh and Naâma), Mr. Adjal stressed that the State allocates "more than 20 billion DA per year" to cover this subsidy.
Speaking about hydrogen, the minister highlighted the sector's commitment to developing its gradual use in several areas, given the great potential that Algeria possesses.
Sonelgaz partage son expertise à l’échelle africaine
In this regard, Mr. Adjal indicated that the execution of the national strategy for the development of this sector "requires the convergence of several factors, including the establishment of a regulatory and institutional framework, the revival of studies, the qualification of human capital, technology transfer and financing, but above all a transparent and competitive market."
He added that Algeria has begun a second phase of implementing the roadmap of its national strategy for the development of hydrogen, relating to pilot projects carried out by Sonelgaz and Sonatrach, to produce this alternative and more sustainable energy resource.
He assured that technical and economic feasibility studies have been launched to define the capacities and characteristics for green ammonia and sustainable alternative fuel projects.
This also includes the Southern Corridor project for the transport of hydrogen "SoutH2 Corridor" which will link Algeria to Germany via Italy and Austria, the agreement having been signed with foreign companies to study the connection and marketing of hydrogen in the countries of the northern Mediterranean.
Furthermore, the minister stressed that the objective of the sector, through the Sonelgaz group, is to strengthen interconnections between the different regions of the country in order to guarantee the security of energy supply and reduce costs, in addition to improving the stability and flexibility of the network, with the aim of strengthening the electricity transmission network and adapting it to the requirements of integrating renewable energies into the network.
Speaking about the prospects for cooperation with African countries, the minister expressed the desire of the sector, through Sonelgaz and its subsidiaries, to strengthen exchanges in the field of electricity, as well as to share expertise in the study, engineering, development and implementation of projects, in addition to the supply of equipment (turbines, transformers, insulators, meters and charging stations for electric vehicles).
He specified, in this regard, that Sonelgaz recorded several export operations of electricity, materials and equipment, in addition to services, for a total estimated value of 38.87 billion DA, including the export of 2663 GWh of electricity as well as equipment to Tunisia, Libya, Italy and Iraq.
Regarding the sector's budget within the framework of the 2026 Finance Bill, the minister specified that an envelope of 133.6 billion DA has been allocated, mainly to the financing of electricity and gas connection projects, to the subsidizing of electricity bills in the relevant wilayas of the South and the High Plateaus, to the development of new and renewable energies, to energy management and to support the new wilayas in the energy sector.
Source: Algeria Press Service
