Utilities & Water
From The Report: Algeria 2018
View in Online Reader

Despite being rich in fossil fuels, Algeria faces challenges in its utilities sector in terms of distribution and efficiency. While the provision of electricity is a non-issue – though sustainable generation notably is – the rate of household connections to the natural gas network is in need of improvement, especially outside major cities. Drinking water is largely secure, yet business needs are straining resources, prompting increases in desalination and wastewater treatment. Future investment opportunities in the utilities sector are set to be focused on rural gas needs, green electrification and unconventional water resources. This chapter contains interviews with Mohamed Arkab, CEO, Sonelgaz; and Hocine Necib, Minister of Water Resources.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Efficient expansion: Aims include building more water-related infrastructure and growing the natural gas distribution network
OBG
plus

Despite being rich in fossil fuels, Algeria faces challenges in its utilities sector in terms of distribution and efficiency. While the provision of electricity is a non-issue – though sustainable generation notably is – the rate of household connections to the natural gas network is in need of improvement, especially outside major cities. Drinking water is largely secure, yet business needs are straining resources, prompting increases in desalination and wastewater treatment. Sector Structure The…

Interview

Powering development: Mohamed Arkab, CEO, Sonelgaz, on setting the continental standard for the development of efficient energy grids
OBG
plus

Interview :Mohamed Arkab What are Sonelgaz’s 2030 development objectives? MOHAMED ARKAB: The evolution of the country’s energy needs has been anticipated through annually updated decennial studies to launch relevant programmes at the right time. Our $32bn investment through 2028 will achieve an installed generation capacity of 30 GW, and the construction of 22,000 km of transport networks and 106,000 km of distribution networks. In gas, the plan covers 5000 km of transmission lines and…

Analysis

Currents of growth: Focused investment in areas like desalination, sanitation and irrigation has eased the stress of acute water scarcity
OBG
plus

In the early 2000s frequent water shortages fuelled social unrest and curbed production capacity across the economy. To address these chronic challenges, the government launched an extensive programme to diversify the water resource base, and improve storage and distribution in the medium to long term. The successes of the sector’s development have been central to broader attempts to diversify the economy since 2014, particularly with respect to agriculture and industry. In the face of rising demand…

Interview

Ensuring supply: Hocine Necib, Minister of Water Resources, on sustainably tapping a variety of water sources
OBG
plus

Interview :Hocine Necib What major hydraulic projects have been completed in recent years, and what investments are planned? HOCINE NECIB: Over the past two decades the state has invested more than $55bn in infrastructure to mobilise, distribute and diversify its water resources, including dams, transfers, desalination plants, purified waste-water treatment plants (WWTPs), rehabilitated supply networks, irrigation perimeters and sanitation networks. The situation has improved considerably…