Accelerated Steps By “Sonelgaz” To Internationalize Its Activities Across 3 Continents

The National Electricity and Gas Company “Sonelgaz” has accelerated the steps to activate and internationalize its activities across several countries, such as Tunisia, Iraq, Libya and Italy, as part of the government’s plans to boost exports outside of hydrocarbons, including the electricity sector, which is noteworthy in that it extends across the continents of Africa, Asia and Europe.

As is known, the latest step in the framework of internationalizing the activities of the Sonelgaz group was represented by exporting important electrical equipment to the Republic of Iraq, starting from its factory in the state of Batna, which was established with the American giant “General Electric”, represented by a generator for gas turbines of the “H53” and “0H5” types with a capacity of 300 megawatts in addition to ancillary equipment.

Mr. Bey Nasri: “The Spnelgaz company has started exporting materials with real added value”

Sonelgaz did not disclose the value of this export, but a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Khalil Hedna, stated that the complex has succeeded in activating important commercial partnerships at the local and international levels, indicating that the operation comes within the framework of implementing the instructions of the country’s highest authorities, aiming to gradually get out of dependence on hydrocarbons, by diversifying economic and commercial activities and valuing the national product.

On the same day (Saturday, September 14), the complex exported a shipment of electrical equipment to Tunisia, consisting of spare parts for electronic meters manufactured at the El Eulma unit in the Setif province affiliated with the complex.

The public complex stated in a statement that this step came within the framework of implementing the instructions of the country’s highest authorities to get out of dependence on hydrocarbons, diversify activities and value the local product.

Expert Hasni: “The power station market in Libya is an irreplaceable opportunity”

Regarding electrical spare parts, Sonelgaz stated that it has signed several export agreements to the foreign market, after achieving sufficiency at the national market level.

Earlier this month, the Sonelgaz Group announced the export of the first shipment of electric car charging poles to Libya and Italy, consisting of 433 poles for medium charging with a capacity of 60 kilowatts, and fast charging with a capacity of 322 kilowatts, indicating that there are other contracts in an advanced stage of commercial negotiations in order to export this type, to European and Middle Eastern countries.

What is striking about this “international” orientation of the Sonelgaz group is the diversity of products that are directed for export. On the one hand, there are generators for gas turbines, thanks to the Ain Yagout plant in Batna province, which was established with General Electric, and which includes 4 units that produce turbines that operate on natural gas (100-300 megawatts), steam turbines (50-160 megawatts), and electric generators that are connected to the turbines to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, in addition to the turbine control systems manufactured in the facility.

On the other hand, the Sonelgaz group also produces various electrical spare parts, such as the El Eulma unit, to which are added electric vehicle charging poles (medium and fast charging), and other products that are expected to see the light of day in the future.

It is also noteworthy that the General Electricity and Gas Company has expanded its international activities across three continents, namely Africa through Libya and Tunisia and perhaps the Sahel countries soon, and the Asian continent, by exporting electrical equipment to the Republic of Iraq more than once, and also Europe through the charging poles that were exported to Italy early this September.

In this context, the Vice President of the Algerian Exporters Association, Mr. Ali Bey Nasri, believes that Sonelgaz has actually begun exporting products related to the electricity sector, such as turbines, spare parts, and others, which are important and vital for this sector.

Mr. Nasri explained in a statement to “Echorouk” that these steps are very positive for the national economy, based on the fact that the export operations touched on materials and products with real added value, because Algerian exports outside the hydrocarbon sector in general are mostly semi-manufactured materials.

In this regard, Mr. Nasri stated that Sonelgaz’s exports to Arab and European countries were represented by equipment and products that have precise and modern technology, which is a very positive thing according to him, and therefore it has become a duty for Algerian industrial companies to mobilize more, because the time has come to export manufactured materials with real added value, including the energy sector.

For his part, energy expert Mr. Tewfiq Hasni believes that this approach initiated by Sonelgaz is a positive step to boost exports outside of hydrocarbons, but on the condition that the added value can be fully recovered and not partially.

Expert Sahni stated in a telephone statement to “Echorouk” that Sonelgaz has great opportunities to contribute to exports outside of hydrocarbons, but the company will have a greater margin of maneuver by becoming more involved in building combined cycle power plants (gas and solar energy) in Libya.

Mr. Tewfiq Hasni believes that Libya has a promising market in this field and is close to Algeria, and engaging in this endeavor to build power stations in Libya will contribute to improving the company’s financial situation, because exporting the expertise that the public complex has in the field of electricity exploitation and distribution is better than exporting in the field of equipment, some of which is produced in foreign partnership and not 100% Algerian.