Algeria, Morocco link power network at 400 kilovolts

Algeria and Morocco linked their power networks at 400 kilo early in October allowing Algeria to export about 1,000 megawatts to Spain’s networks, energy ministry said.

• The ministry says Algeria’s power production is expected to go up to 12,771 megawatts by 2012 from 9,500 megawatts in late 2009.
• In 1979, Algeria and Morocco linked their power networks at 200 kilovolts. “This traditional linking did not provide enough protection for the two networks,” said Algeria’s energy company Sonelgaz.
• “This successful action between Sonelgaz and Morocco’s Power Office will provide the North African power network (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia) with record protection,” it added.
• “It will also reactivate a real power market in North Africa after the four countries in this region linked their networks at 400 kilovolts.”
• “It is possible now to link this network to the European network through Spain at 400 kilovolts. That would allow the creation of a Euro-North African power market after all the Mediterranean countries link their power networks.”
• Power North African Commission determined the technical and commercial aspects of the network, the mutual emergency use of power and conditions of importing power from Algeria to Spain through Morocco.
• In 2005-2008, Algeria linked Tunisia to Morocco with 400 kilovolt power along 1,200 kilometres.