Angela Merkel expresses desire to realize “Desertec” project in Algeria

The German Chancellor Angela Merkel said during a press conference with the President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Wednesday that she has a strong desire to see the project “Desertec” turn into reality.

 President Bouteflika asserted that he wants to cooperate with Germany in this project which is the largest ambitious project in solar energy in the world. 

This project aims to analyze the use of clean energy in the deserts of North Africa that would provide Europe with up to 15% of its needs for energy by the year 2050. It is also expected to cost over $500 billion.

Before his visit to Berlin, there was a belief in Algiers that the government is not interested in such large project, because the German government will not provide financial cooperation, but leaving it to the private European companies. However, the new orientation of the Algerian government and mandating the department of energy to prepare a national plan for renewable energies to cover the country’s needs proved that Algeria is interested in this large project.

In addition to cooperation in the field of energy, German companies expressed urgent desire to participate in the implementation of the Five-Year Plan for which Algeria allocated $286b, especially in the fields on construction, public works, medicines, water,  and mechanical industries, thanks to the historical relations between the two countries in the field of industry, on the grounds that there are good relations which would help Algeria to cooperate in various fields including illegal immigration and terrorism.