A pivotal agreement was formally concluded this Thursday in Algiers, solidifying a partnership between Algeria and Chad for the construction of a 40-megawatt power plant in N’Djamena.
The official signing ceremony brought together Mourad Adjal, Algeria’s Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies, and Passalé Kanabé Marcelin, the Chadian Minister of Water and Energy. Their signatures affixed to this accord mark a significant step towards establishing a 40-megawatt electricity generation facility in N’Djamena, Chad. This initiative directly aligns with the strategic vision of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who champions robust support for African nations and the advancement of South-South cooperation.
technical studies complete for N’Djamena power plant
This landmark agreement emerged from extensive discussions held between Minister Adjal and his Chadian counterpart during the latter’s working visit to Algeria. Throughout their meetings, both delegations thoroughly explored avenues for enhancing bilateral cooperation across the energy and renewable energy sectors. They identified concrete strategies to bolster this partnership, encompassing electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, alongside the provision of essential electrical and gas equipment, and specialized training programs.
Minister Adjal confirmed the successful completion of the technical study for the power plant’s construction, following a deployment of Sonelgaz technical teams to Chad just last week. He emphasized that both nations are now poised to commence the crucial phase of equipment export, anticipating an imminent groundbreaking ceremony for the project. Furthermore, he revealed that Chadian technical personnel are scheduled to arrive in Algeria for a month-long intensive training program at Sonelgaz’s specialized academies. These trained teams will ultimately be responsible for operating the new power plant once it becomes operational. The Minister also highlighted that this collaborative effort will extend to the vital rehabilitation of N’Djamena’s existing electrical grid.
Algeria: a leading reference in african energy
Minister Marcelin, for his part, hailed the power plant agreement as a “historic milestone” for South-South cooperation and a pivotal advancement in the evolving relations between Algeria and Chad. He recalled that the foundations for this robust partnership were laid during the official visit of Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno to Algeria in April, where leaders from both fraternal nations solidified their commitment to mutual development.
He conveyed profound gratitude to the Algerian President for his unwavering support to Chad, particularly in the critical energy sector. Marcelin lauded Algeria as having emerged as “a true reference” for numerous African nations, especially regarding electricity provision, given its impressive production capabilities. He articulated Chad’s keen desire to leverage Algerian expertise, noting that 12 Chadian trainees are presently undergoing specialized instruction in Algeria on power plant operation, with further cohorts slated to receive similar crucial training.
a fully algerian power plant for Chad
Yazid Djellouli, President and CEO of Sonelgaz International, affirmed that the new power plant in Chad would be “one hundred percent Algerian” in its conception, equipment, and workforce. He assured that Chadian authorities are set to commence site preparation works very soon, coinciding with the shipment of equipment and the official launch of construction.
Djellouli further articulated Sonelgaz International’s strategic objective to expand its footprint across Africa, noting that since its establishment in March, the company has already received numerous inquiries from various African nations for energy and related infrastructure projects. Concurrently, Saleh Ben Haliki, Director General of ChadElec, warmly welcomed the power plant initiative, recognizing it as one of the inaugural achievements stemming from the “renewed relations” between Algeria and Chad in the energy sector. He underscored Chad’s eagerness to leverage Algerian expertise, echoing the sentiment that Algeria has indeed become “a true reference” for electrical coverage across the continent.
