Le coût du programme à 400 milliards de dinars financé par la BNA

The cost of the program at 400 billion dinars financed by the BNA

Renewable energies

The cost of the current renewable energy program, in its first phase, involving the production of 3 GW of solar energy, is estimated at more than 400 billion DA (3 billion dollars) and will be covered by a loan from the Bank. Nationale d’Algérie (BNA), indicated, the day before yesterday Tuesday in Algiers, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab.
“For the current program, the main financing mechanism chosen consists of local financing in the form of a loan provided by the BNA. The overall cost of this first phase of 3,300 MW is estimated at 413 billion DA (3 billion dollars),” said the minister during his participation in the first Algerian edition of the “Global CEO Survey” of the Consulting firm PwC.
For the rest of the program, relating to the production of 15,000 MW by 2035, the financing method should mainly be based on “the development of IPP (Independent Power Producer) projects, with private actors and operators ensuring the assembly, financing and operation of power plants,” Mr. Arkab further argued during his participation in a panel dedicated to “renewable energy opportunities in Algeria,” organized on the occasion. Additional financing from Algerian financial institutions can also be considered, he added. Ultimately, “we will have a favorable framework, combining public and private financing mechanisms. Algeria would have the necessary means to realize its ambitious sustainable energy development program,” assured the minister. He, in the same sense, mentioned the development of hydrogen, “a priority objective” for the Government, stressing that Algeria aspired to become a “major energy hub”, by getting involved in projects-
pilots aimed at controlling the entire hydrogen production value chain.
In its strategy, Algeria intends to gradually develop hydrogen for its use in sectors with high energy consumption such as cement, fertilizers, glass and steel, firstly, and to develop large long-term capacities. term to produce and export 40 TWh (around 2 million tonnes) of hydrogen and its derivatives, according to the minister’s presentation. In this regard, he recalled the completion, in partnership with German companies, of two projects-
green hydrogen production pilots on the Sonatrach sites in Arzew (50 MW) and that of Hassi Messaoud (4 MW) to test the hydrogen transport technique.
In addition, he continued, Algeria is actively participating in discussions with its European partners for the establishment of the South Corridor H2, an ambitious project for the transport of renewable hydrogen from Algeria to Germany. , via Tunisia, Italy and Austria, using existing gas pipelines and/or new interconnections.
In the long term, the sector even plans the introduction of civil nuclear power for the production of electricity, once the technical and technological conditions are met, according to the minister. Furthermore, the country intends to continue its role as a major gas supplier on the international scene.
“Gas will remain a key resource supporting the energy transition,” stressed
Mr. Arkab. Asked about the development of decentralized and off-grid electrification solutions, the minister indicated that these solutions represented significant opportunities in the deployment of renewable energies in Algeria. Several “conclusive experiments” have already been carried out in this direction, he recalled, citing isolated villages in the south of the country which are today powered by autonomous solar or wind installations, or even life bases and other infrastructures. of Sonatrach which use off-grid autonomous energy systems.
“Off-grid solutions would make it possible to sustainably electrify these areas while offering continuous and reliable power, thanks in particular to battery storage. They also have the advantage of a zero carbon footprint compared to diesel power plants,” he explained.
Djamila Sai