“Sonelagaz” general manager to Echourouk: Algeria exports electricity to Morocco.

Energy consumption in Algeria has surged to unprecedented levels since 2008 reaching 14% in 2008-2009 in comparison to 7% in 2009-2010 to rise reach 14% in 2010-2011, the general manager of the Algerian energy company “ Sonelgas” has revealed.

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•  In a declaration to “Echourouk” M Noureddine Bouterfa has indicated that the link between the two power stations located in the provinces of Oum Al Bouaki and Biskra  with a capacity of 400 Kilovolts will enable the company to cover the demand in the southern parts of the country especially in the summer season where the consumption reaches its peak.

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• He also called on the Algerian authorities to clear the bureaucratic hurdles that hamper the link between the eastern and western parts of the country by a cable with a capacity of 400 Kilovolts at the level of the region of Si- Mustapha, Boumerdes and L’ ksser , Bejaia.

•  M Bouterfa has indicated that the Algeria has completed the link of its network between Tunisia and Morocco with a capacity of 400 Kilovolts and exported nearly 100 Megawatts to Morocco since July.

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• Foreign companies that operate in Algeria are not allowed to export energy outside the territory and have to sell all their production to the Algerian company which has the exclusivity to export the surplus, the manager has further indicated.

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•  M Bouterfa has revealed that his group is due to launch a new company in southern Algeria entrusted with developing and investing in the sector of energy in these areas.

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• He further indicated that the Algerian company has not the monopoly on renewable energies asserting that the competition is open to the private and public sectors whether national or foreign ones.

•  The company will produce photovoltaic cells and silicon as part of joint venture with a German group, the manager added. This technology reduce the costs of renewable energies by 35% , he said.

•  Algeria possesses a huge potential of silicon on its territories regarded as one of the best in the world, this resource is a plus for the company.

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