Energy ministry seeks 123.4bn dinars for 2027 budget

Mourad Adjal, minister of energy and renewable energies, presented a proposed budget of 123.4bn dinars (DZD) for 2027 to parliament on Tuesday.

The presentation was made to the finance and budget committee of the People's National Assembly (APN), as part of the examination of the 2027 finance bill (PLF). Algérie Eco reported that the budget will support electricity and gas connection projects, the growth of renewable energy and efforts to control energy use.

Adjal said the sector's priorities are the security of energy supply, the growth of clean energy sources and better public service. He said that connecting citizens to electricity and gas, especially in isolated areas, is one of the sector's goals. The aim follows the policy of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

The electricity connection rate is close to 99%, covering more than 12.8 million customers. For gas, the rate is almost 80%, with more than 8.7 million customers.

The electricity and gas programme receives the largest share, 93.89bn dinars (DZD). The money will pay for connecting homes in the wilayas, including the newly created wilayas and those that are behind on connections.

The same programme will also pay for connecting seven industrial zones and for the electricity and gas networks. It will support electricity bills in the wilayas concerned in the South and the High Plateaux (Hauts-Plateaux).

The energy efficiency and renewable energy programme receives 24.06bn dinars (DZD). It will fund 13 projects to reduce energy use in several sectors. The general administration programme receives 5.6bn dinars (DZD) for running costs, equipment and new offices in the newly created wilayas.

If the draft is approved, the 2027 budget would mean more electricity and gas connections in isolated areas, and help with bills in the South and the High Plateaux.

Sonelgaz plans 624bn dinars (DZD) of investment in 2027, according to the minister's presentation. Next year should also see the commissioning of the last 17 solar power plants in the programme, with a total capacity of 2,440 megawatts-peak (MWc).