Algeria to launch an “ambitious” program of renewable energies development on 20 years

ALGIERS-Algeria is preparing to launch an “ambitious” program for renewable energies development on 20 years aiming at considerably increasing the production of electricity from alternative energies, Youcef Yousfi Minister of Energy and Mines announced Monday.

“In a few weeks we will submit to the government a plan to develop new and renewable energies (…) it is an extremely ambitious program in solar, wind and geothermal energies,” he said during a ceremony devoted to the code of corporate ethics of Sonelgaz group.

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika instructed Sunday the government to present to the Council of Ministers in 2011, a comprehensive national plan for new and renewable energies development.

With regards to the details of this plan, the minister has only said that it should lead to production, within 20 years, from those renewable energies, the same quantity of electricity currently produced from natural gas.