Algeria intends to issue tenders in June for project to add 1,000 megawatts (MW) to its renewable energy production capacity, the Arab country's Energy Transition and Renewable Energies Minister was reported on Thursday as saying. 

Chems-Eddine Chitour said the project to produce electricity from photovoltaic sources covers 10 provinces in South Algeria, with 100 MW for each province. 

“We have discussed this project with government experts and obtained approval from the concerned authorities to launch it,” the Arabic language daily Elkhabar quoted the Minister as saying at a press seminar in Algiers on Monday. 

He said the project is a big leap in Algeria’s drive to switch to renewable energy sources, adding that it would allow it to save 300 million cubic metres of gas annually. 

The Minister also revealed plans to create a joint-stock company to invest in renewable energy projects, adding: "Algeria’s energy transition has become inevitable….we have consumed fossil energy for more than 50 years and it is time to adopt a strategy to rationalise consumption and appreciate renewable energy.” 

In a report last week, the Rwanda-based African Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) said Algeria has plans to add 4 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy to become one of 30 nations with at least one GW of installed renewable energy production. 

(Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon)

(anoop.menon@refinitiv.com)

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