Energy Ministry Announces The Revival Of The German Desertec Industrial Initiative

The Ministry of Energy announces here on Wednesday the government’s intention to revive the German project “Desertec”, which has been frozen for years for unknown reasons saying that a memorandum of understanding will soon be signed between Algerian specialized companies and the German organization.

According to the ministry’s statement, the decision comes “to enhance the capacity of renewable energy production and its good inclusion in the Algerian electrical system, adding that the energy sector is looking forward to developing cooperation with the German Dii (Desertec industrial initiative) in the field of renewable energies.

The main objectives of this cooperation relates to the launching and completion of technical and economic studies for the utilization of solar and wind energies, the dissemination of renewable energies and the promotion of joint projects for the development of renewable energies at the national and international level, and the joint promotion of research in the field of manufacturing, installation, exploitation and storage of renewable energies.

According to the same source, “It is also a joint study of ways and means to access foreign markets to export renewable electricity and strengthen partnership in the field of training in renewable energy industries and the transfer of knowledge and technology”.

It explained that “this will to cooperate will be realized in the near future by the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the national companies of the energy sector and this organization”.

As part of the government’s policy on developing renewable energies and energy efficiency, the energy sector has launched an “ambitious” program to produce 5,600 megawatts by 2027, the ministry said.

“This important and ambitious program will be achieved with Algerian institutions and in partnership with companies and institutions that have the expertise and have access to modern technologies in this area that would allow reducing costs”.

In this regard, a delegation from the energy sector, including officials from the Electricity and Gas Regulatory Commission, Sonelgaz, the Governorate of Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency, recently participated in the 10th Arab-German Forum on Energy.

The ministry did not explain why the project is currently being revived after years of freezing, with information circulating about the government’s rejection of this project because of its high cost and leaks about the presence of external pressure from France to abort the project.