Sonelgaz Retrieves One-Third Of Its Unpaid Debts From Customers

The General Manager of the Sonelgaz electricity and gas Group, Mr. Mohamed Arkab said on Sunday that the electricity and gas distribution branch of Sonelgaz complex has managed to collect up to now 30 percent of the outstanding debts from its customers, exceeding 56 billion dinars.

“The rate of collection of unpaid debts of our public and private customers is improving day by day to currently settle at 30 per cent,” Mr Arkab said on the sidelines of a training workshop on electricity and gas careers in Africa.

In May 2017, the electricity and gas distribution company of the Sonelgaz complex launched a large-scale collection of its debts from its customers, called “collection drive”, through 355 commercial agencies nationwide.

Private customers account for the largest share of the company’s debt, with 46 percent of the total debt, while 40 percent represents the debts of public administrations, institutions and traders.

With respect to public customers, including departments and institutions, the Company has prepared a special register to  retrieve its unpaid debts.

The number of subscribers to the electricity supply grid is set at 9.1 million in 2017, compared to 8.8 million in 2016, a hike of 4 percent. 

On the other hand, the number of customers for the gas service network was estimated at 5.2 million in 2017 compared to 4.9 million in 2016, that is an increase of 7%.