Algeria starts taking a census of number of poor people

The government formed a commission at the Prime Ministry to take a census of poor and needy people in Algeria. This comes as there is a plan to raise the tariff of electricity and some largely consumed products next year.

According to economy expert Abderrahmane Mabtoul, the new chief of Sonelgaz will have a heavy responsibility amid challenges imposed by the market and electricity low tariff. The government will have either to raise the tariff or offer a financial subsidy to the enterprise. 

He believes that the best solution is to adopt a selective subsidy policy by determining a list of people who can not afford the new tariff.

The position of Sonelgaz’s CEO is still vacant after its former chief Nourredine Bouterfa was appointed as energy minister.

Sonelgaz faces a difficult financial situation as its deficit exceeded 1,200 billion DZ last year.