Energy: DG Miloud Medjelled tackles gas, oil production, Algeria’s bet on green hydrogen, solar energy
By: Hana Saada
ALGIERS– “The Algerian gas production will increase to more than 10 billion cubic meters,” reported, on Thursday, the National radio channel I, quoting the Director General of Economic Studies and Foresight at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Miloud Medjelled.
“We are betting on the extraction of unconventional energies. To this end, 42 billion dollars have been allocated to develop Sonatrach’s research and exploration operations between 2023 and 2027,” he added.
Mr. Medjelled noted that Sonatrach had concluded several contracts with international partners, amounting to 6 billion dollars, which would allow an increase in oil production from 190 million tonnes to 210 million tonnes, and gas production would increase to more than 10 billion cubic meters.
The same official highlighted 16 discoveries of 100 million tonnes of oil equivalent, which will revitalize Algeria’s oil and gas reserves.
He mentioned the bet of the authorities on the development of the hydrogen sector in order to provide complementary energy solutions, pointing to the allocation of a value of between 20 and 25 billion dollars for the exploitation of green hydrogen.
Mr. Medjelled announced 7 petrochemical projects, including 4 with foreign operators, to increase conversion capacities, including the conversion of phosphates to produce urea and ammonia, in addition to the zinc project in Béjaïa, which will increase processing industries from 30 to 50%.
The same official tackled the production of 15,000 megawatts of solar power by 2035, noting that 500 megawatts had been produced so far.
