Algeria reaffirms commitment to strengthening regional and international energy integration
Algerian Minister of State, Minister of Energy, Mines, and Renewable Energies, Mohamed Arkab, reaffirmed on Monday Algeria’s commitment to strengthening regional and international integration in the energy sector, the Algerian Ministry of Energy and Mines said in a statement.
During his participation in a ministerial session under the theme “Policies and Reforms for Transforming the Energy Sector in Africa,” ahead of the African Heads of State Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Minister Arkab emphasised Algeria’s leadership in the energy sector, both in Africa and globally, highlighting the country’s significant achievements in this field.
In his speech at the meeting, which featured in-depth discussions on ways to achieve the goals of the “Mission 300” initiative, aimed at providing electricity to 300 million people in Africa by 2030, promoting regional cooperation, encouraging investment in energy infrastructure, and expanding the use of renewable energy for a comprehensive and sustainable energy transition in the continent, Arkab stated that Algeria is working to enhance its role in electricity connectivity with neighbouring countries. He pointed to the implementation of a 400 kV power interconnection line with Tunisia, which will facilitate energy exchange between the two countries. Algeria is also aiming to expand this connectivity with Libya, which will enhance regional cooperation and electricity exchange.
Arkab also discussed Algeria’s ongoing projects to connect its electricity grid directly to Europe via the Mediterranean, which will enable the country to export electricity and help diversify energy sources for European nations.
The minister emphasised the importance of electricity interconnections with African countries, outlining plans to expand regional cooperation and increase electricity exchanges to foster economic and social development. Additionally, he highlighted the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) project, which will link Nigeria to Algeria via Niger, allowing for the export of 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually to European markets. Supported by the African Union and the African Development Bank, this project represents a crucial step toward greater regional integration.
Regarding the energy transition, Minister Arkab stated that Algeria is increasingly relying on renewable energy and hydrogen to reduce carbon emissions. He outlined the government’s ambitious plan to develop renewable energy, with a goal of generating 15,000 megawatts of solar power by 2030.
Minister Arkab also underscored Algeria’s commitment to investing in advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and digital tools, to improve energy production and distribution efficiency. He noted that Algeria continues to support African countries through knowledge transfer and the training of technical personnel in various energy sectors, including oil, gas, and renewable energy.
The Algerian minister highlighted Algeria’s notable progress in the energy sector, including the completion of modern power plants that have raised the country’s electrical capacity to 28 gigawatts, enabling it to meet domestic demand and export surplus energy. Moreover, over 12 million homes are now connected to electricity, and 8 million homes have access to natural gas, raising electricity coverage to over 99% and gas coverage to 70%. Minister Arkab also discussed Algeria’s ongoing efforts to modernise the national electricity grid and improve its energy transmission and distribution infrastructure, with major projects to build over 5,000 kilometres of high-voltage transmission lines. These efforts will help connect southern and border regions to the national grid, while the network has already expanded to 35,000 kilometres.
