Sonatrach' solar plant at the Bir Rebaa oilfield
Algiers promises new solar dawn
Tender expected in June or July for 1GW of solar photovoltaic capacity as government decree mandates new ministry to undertake procurement exercise
Algeria’s decade of false starts in the renewables sector induces scepticism towards fresh government pronouncements of lofty ambitions. In 2011, Algiers declared a goal of producing 22GW of electricity from renewable sources by 2030—but by end-2020 it had installed a mere 686MW, according to the latest survey by the Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency. Neighbouring Morocco, blessed with similarly conducive climactic conditions, boasts 3.4GW. However, the disavowal by Chems Eddine Chitour—appointed last June as head of the newly created Energy Transition and Renewable Energies Ministry—of the practice of setting extravagant long-term targets in favour of immediate concrete
Also in this section
12 March 2026
Role of world’s largest carbon cap-and-trade market under scrutiny as war in Iran threatens to drive EU energy costs to unsustainable levels
10 March 2026
Europe urgently needs to bring more projects to FID, as CCS investors warn they might divert capital to faster-growing regions
9 January 2026
A shift in perspective is needed on the carbon challenge, the success of which will determine the speed and extent of emissions cuts and how industries adapt to the new environment
2 January 2026
This year may be a defining one for carbon capture, utilisation and storage in the US, despite the institutional uncertainty
