The country will soon invite local and foreign companies to bid for a 150 MW solar power plant, according to an official of the Algerian Ministry of Energy.
Algeria plans to launch several tenders for renewable energy projects this year as it seeks to meet the growing demand for electricity and gas for export, while also aiming to produce 2,000 MW by the end of 2020.
This comes within the country’s updated renewable energy program. Which includes a renewable energy installation of about 22,000 MW by 2030 for the local market, up from about 350 MW currently, with an export option as a strategic objective if market conditions allow.
Algeria currently uses gas to generate 98 percent of its electricity needs of 19,000 MW. Still, increasing the current level of oil and gas exports or maintaining them is a top priority for the state; as oil and gas account for up to 60 percent of the budget and 94 percent of Algeria’s total overseas sales.
The state energy company Sonatrach has already signed a memorandum of understanding with Italy’s Eni to build solar power plants.
