Algeria Energy Situation

Overview

People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
Capital	Algiers (36°42′N 3°13′E)
Official language(s)	Arabic
Government	Semi-presidential republic
President	Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Prime Minister	Ahmed Ouyahia
Total area	2,381,741 km2
Population	35,423,000 (2010 estimate)
GDP (nominal)	$158.969 billion
GDP Per capita	$4,478
Currency	Algerian dinar (DZD)
Time zone	CET (UTC+01)
Calling code	+213

Algeria is located in North Africa and is bordering Tunisia and Libya in the east, Niger and Mali in the south, and Mauritania, Western Sahara, and Morocco in the west. In the north, Algeria’s vast coast of over 1.200 km extends to the Mediterranean Sea. Being part of the Maghreb, Algeria is furthermore considered to be a part of the MENA-region. With its more than two million km2 of national territory, Algeria is by far the largest North African country. However, most of its national territory is being occupied by the Sahara, which thus explains the population of roughly 33 million people. This is also expressed in the arrangement of population density: 90% of the population is located in the north. The mild Mediterranean climate coming from the coast is being replaced by a dry desert climate while moving south. The official language is Arabic, although French can be considered to be a common lingua franca, whereas in some areas Berber dialects can be common as well. Having a parliament that consists of a national assembly and a senate, Algeria is a republic with Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who has been reelected with 90.2% of votes in 2009, as its president since 1999. Ethnic groups are made up of a vast majority of Arab-Berber (99%). However, most Algerians identify themselves with their Berber heritage rather than their Arab one. The state religion is Sunni Muslim, likewise represented by a vast majority, while Christians and Jews make up less than 3% of the population.
Minerals that can be found in this region are amongst others oil, gas, iron, and lead. Together with agricultural goods, they make up the majority of export goods. Furthermore, they are the reason, why Algeria is part in international economic conglomerates, such as the OPEC or the OAPIC. Algeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) has been constantly rising in the last couple of years, bringing it to the approximate amount of $160 billion in 2010. The GDP per capita is hence about $7.300.
Algeria has a number of transnational issues to deal with, including an international dispute with the Moroccan administration of Western Sahara and illegal schemes in form of smuggling, human trafficking and forced labor.

 

Energy Situation

Energy Supply

In 2008, Algeria has produced a total amount of 162,044 ktoe of energy, which is about 1,884,571 GWh. Its main energy source is crude oil (54.4%), followed by gas (45.5%). In comparison, the numbers concerning the renewable energies are much smaller and close to zero. Other energy sources, such as coal, nuclear power or heat are in fact zero, thus giving an impression that Algeria has quite a unilateral energy landscape. Published by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the numbers below offer more detail to Algeria's energy production:

Energy Source	in ktoe	in %
Coal and Peat	0	0
Crude Oil	88,187	54.4
Oil Products	0	0
Gas	73,783	45.5
Nuclear	0	0
Hydro	24	0.02
Geothermal, solar, etc.	0	0
Combustible renewables and waste	49	0.03
Electricity	0	0
Heat	0	0
Total1	162,044

Table 1: Total Energy Production of Algeria (2008)
Source: International Energy Agency, ©2011, "2008 Energy Balance for Algeria", Last Updated: - , Accessed: September 19, 2011, URL: ">http://www.iea.org/stats/balancetable.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=DZ http://www.iea.org/stats/balancetable.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=DZ">http://www.iea.org/stats/balancetable.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=DZ   

Taking Table 1 above into consideration, Table 2 ("Total Primary Energy Supply") offers quite a similar picture. It might yet seem suprising, that gas is now the main energy source with more than 60%, while oil only makes up 37% of the energy supply. This curiosity can be explained by the massive amount of crude oil (-55,002 ktoe) and oil products (-19,334 ktoe) Algeria is exporting and thus decreasing the amount of available oil. Plenty of gas is being exported, as well (-51,259 ktoe).

Energy Source	in ktoe	in %
Coal and Peat	755	2.0
Oil	13,721	37.0
Gas	22,524	60.8
Nuclear	0	0.0
Hydro	24	0.01
Geothermal, solar, etc.	0	0.0
Combustible renewables and waste	49	0.1
Electricity	-4	-0.1
Heat	0	0.0
Total1	37,069

Table 2: Total Primary Energy Supply of Algeria (2008)
¹Total may not add up due to roundings.

Source: International Energy Agency, ©2011, "2008 Energy Balance for Algeria", Accessed: September 19, 2011, URL: ">http://www.iea.org/stats/balancetable.asp http://www.iea.org/stats/balancetable.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=DZ">http://www.iea.org/stats/balancetable.asp? COUNTRY_CODE=DZ

Gas in particular appears to be one of the main energy sources for a somewhat mid-term solution. According to the IEA projections, Algeria will have an average growth rate of about 2,7% in natural gas production until 2035. Having said that, most gas production is expected to be in the form of conventional gas, as Algeria (together with Nigeria) is expected to be the leading protagonist in gas production growth in Africa, thus augmenting export rates once again, after they had dropped in 2009. In addition, the technology of liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be installed and exploited by 2013. According to the IEA, two major LNG liquefaction plants are planned for Algeria - Skikda and and Gassi Touil. Both projects envision a starting point of construction in 2013.

Electricity

In the course of the last decade, electricity production rose from 26,250 GWh in 2001 to a predicted increase to up to 46,000 GWh in 2010. It appears that this development is mainly due to the economic growth that Algeria has experienced along the way. As Table 3 shows below, main source for the production of electricity is gas with a relativ percentage to the total amount produced of over 97%. Although there are other minor sources of electricity, such as oil and hydro-power, a similar picture as seen in the tables above is being created, suggesting a rather one-sided production and supply (in this case) of electricity.

Energy Source	in GWh	in %2,3
Coal	0	0.0
Oil	792	2.0
Gas	39,161	97.3
Biomass	0	0.0
Waste	0	0.0
Nuclear	0	0.0
Hydro	283	0.7
Geothermal	0	0.0
Solar PV	0	0.0
Solar thermal	0	0.0
Wind	0	0.0
Tide	0	0.0
Other sources	0	0.0
Total Production	40,236	100.0
Imports	274	0.7
Exports	-323	-0.8
Domestic Supply	40,187	99.9

^{Table 3: Electricity Production and Supply of Algeria (2008)}

²In relation to the amount given by "Total Production"

³Total may not add up due to roundings and overlapping percentages.

Source: International Energy Agency, ©2011, "Electricity/Heat in Algeria 2008", Last updated: - , Accessed: September 20, 2011, URL: http://www.iea.org/stats/electricitydata.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=DZ

 

Energy Consumption

Compared to 2008, Algeria has increased its energy consumption in 2009 by almost 5%. In 2008, Algeria's total final consumption (TFC) added up to 23,447 ktoe units, equal to 272,688.6 GWh.

 

Sector	Consumption in GWh	in %
Industry	51,381.3	18,8
Transport	79,770.2	29.3
Residential	117,323.4	43.0
Non-energy use	24,213.7	8.9
TFC	272,688.6	100

Table 4: Algeria's TFC of Energy (2008)

Source: International Energy Agency, ©2011, "Electricity/Heat in Algeria 2008", Last updated: - , Accessed: September 20, 2011, URL: http://www.iea.org/stats/balancetable.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=DZ

Energy Demand  

Between 1963 and 2007 – not even half a century of development – Algeria chronicles an enormous rise in the demand of electricity. Whereas electricity consumption in the early 1960’s was less than a single TWh, it has risen to 30 TWh in 2007. However, the boom in consumption has been quite stable recently, slowly rising by about 5.6% per annum. The German Chamber of Foreign Commerce (AHK) predicts an annual rise in energy consumption between 5.5% and 7%, causing a doubling in the increase of production of the energy sector.  In view of these facts, the Algerian Ministry of Energy and Mining (MEM) has proposed two possible future scenarios. One prevision is a rather moderate one, projecting a steady but fair continuation of the current trend in the rise of energy demand, assuming that the economy is developing in a similar slow and controllable way. The second and rather drastic forecast reckons with a strong and lasting reanimation of the economy, thus challenging the task to meet future energy demands. Depending on the scenario, energy needs could bounce up between 7.8% and 9.1% until 2017.

Electricity Grid

According to the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, Algeria has an extensive AC network that spreads throughout the country with a total length of transmission network of about 18,000 km. Run by Sonelgaz, Algeria's main energy operator, electricity makes up 71% of its business, which is not only focused on the densely populated north but also makes efforts to reach down south. Algeria is connected with neighbouring grids of Tunisia and Morocco also by a 440 kV line each.

Gas Pipelines

Algeria can be considered to be one of the main exploiters and exporters of gas in the MENA-region. Especially Europe profits from Algeria's great amounts of gas (that consist mainly of conventional gas and to a limited extent of natural gas) being transported via gas pipelines. One of the only two major pipeline connections that have been commissioned since 2009 is the MedGaz pipeline going from Algeria to Spain. Another major project securing and easing Europe's constant gas supply by Algeria is planned for the year 2015 and stipulates a pipeline connecting Algeria and Italy (Gasdotto Algeria Sardegna Italia - GALSI).

Access Rate

The International Energy Agency (IEA) states that the average energy supply per individual (TPES/pop. = toe/capita) in 2008 was 1.08 toe, which was much less than the worlds average (1.83 toe). Another statistic that seems to reveal a similar deviance is the consumption of electricity per individual (kWh/capita), which is about 957 kWh (compared to the worlds average of 2,782 kWh). The presumption is that these low numbers are not due to the reasonable energy use of Algeria's population, but due to the insufficient accessibility of electricity. An indiciation to support this hypothetical statement is the number of households considered to be clients of Sonelgaz: 6,525,999. Considering the average african household size of 4.7 members, this number mounts up to 30,672195.3 mio people - as opposed to the total population of about 34.5 million people. Following this logic, the concrete, explicit access rate would be around 89%. Obviously, this is nothing but a rough and approximate estimation due a lack of official numbers. Nevertheless, it offers a first impression on how to evaluate Algeria's access rate. However, it shall not lead to hasty conclusions, for this phenomenon can be explained by a number of potential factors, such as the fact that in 2009 34% of Algeria's population was considered to be part of the rural population, implying much more rudimentary living standards as compared to the urban population.  The Algerian state and Sonelgaz are showing quite some effort to supply rural areas with urban-quality services. One statistic supporting this perception is the amount of almost 378,5 billion Algerian Dinars that was spent in 2009 in form of eight different projects that have dealt with rural electrification. Newer statistics indicate and display remarkable progress since then. According to Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) over 98% of the population have used the service provided by the extensive network. Although the network has already undergone several exentensions recently, an extension of yet another 5% is planned for the upcoming years.

Network access is generally controlled by CREG. The German Chamber of Foreign Commerce yet claims that this does not represent any sort of obstacle in terms of the connection of renewable energy power utilities to the grid.

Market Situation for Different Energy Technologies and Services

Although state-run gas and electricity company Sonelgaz considers energy prices to be far too cheap, prices are set by the likewise state-run regulatory commission CREG and thus add up 0.04583 €/kWh (4,1789 DZD/kWh). Although the energy market has officially been liberalised, energy supply is still entirely regulated and controlled by the state (mainly in form of the just mentioned companies under the Sonelgaz Group), with the exception of a few private enterprises in which Sonelgaz is a major stakeholder. 

Despite the insufficient but highly expendable use of renewable energy, the Ministry of Energy and Mining of Algeria has declared renewable energy as a main priority for Algeria its up-to-date informative literature dating March, 2011. The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program includes the idea of installing up to 22,000 MW of power generating capacity from renewable resources until 2030.

Solar Energy

Algeria comes with 20 solar villages, of which the majority is in action and is contributing to the overall production of energy. Solar energy is considered to be the most potential source of renewable energy, the most of which is being naturally collected in the Sahara region with 2,650 kWh/m²/year.  Nevertheless, solar energy makes up only a minimal amount of the total energy that is being produced in Algeria. The 35 TWh that energy production has reached by now is mainly based on the exploitation of natural gas. According to Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), the amount of produced solar energy is about 6.57 kWh/m²/day.

Future investments and promotion of solar energy accentuate two sub-technologies working with solar energy. On one hand the industrial integration of photovoltaic solar energy is supposed to be promoted to reach about 60% by 2013. On the other hand, solar thermal energy is allegedly to experience an industrial integration of 50% by year 2020, starting with a series of studies concerning the manufacturing of the respective equipment between 2011 and 2013.

Wind Energy

In past reports, the potential of energy gained by the exploitation of wind has been rated as very low. The 2011 report however promotes a rather different attitude by the Ministry of Energy and Mines. The so far quite underestimated and neglected sector of aeolian energy is therein identified as a field of future study (by 2013), in order to soon be able to implement wind energy industry. The rather interesting approach is: instead of importing the respective technology to build energy prdoucing wind turbines, Algeria is planning to first develop a plant to produce said technology and then install their own wind generating products, thus probably increasing socio-economic impacts caused by the installation and usage of aelion energy generators.

Biomass

Similar to wind energy, the potential of energy extracted from biomass is relatively low, according to the Algerian Ministry of Energy and Mines. Having said that, the Ministry does not neglect the chance of producing and using biomass energy. In fact, it plans to implement experimental projects to approach yet another source of renewable energy. Nevertheless, further information on this topic appear to be rather vague. Responsible for developing and implementing these research projects is the Center for Renewable Energy Development (CDER).
The REEEP estimates the potential of Biomass to be about 37,000 ktoe that can be gained by forest reserves.

Biogas

Biogas, considered to be a sub-category of biomass, is just like the biomass itself in quite limited use in Algeria. Although no official figures can confirm an extended use of biogas, REEEP asserts that in 2010, Algeria had "roughly 1,1330 ktoe of agricultural and municipal residues" available.

Hydro Power

Hydro Power represents yet another source of renewable energy that is considered to be rather less profitable. Although flows are estimated to be about 65 billion m³, limited precipitation and high evaporation constrict extensive usage of the ressource of water. Recent evaluations showed that only 25 billion m³ can be used effectively. Despite these facts, Algeria still comes with more than 100 dams and some dozens more that are already projected. Although these numbers are not the most current ones, they do show however that Algeria is making use of very different sources of renewable energy.

Other Renewable Sources

Another potential source of renewable energy is given by geothermal energy - energy generated and stored in the earth. Due to multiple hot springs located in Algeria that can be used for low-temperature geothermal applications, Algeria's energy potential (in the context of geothermal activity) is in the range of 700 MW.

Key Problems of the Energy Sector

Two major problems that are indirectily linked to the energy sector are the decaying infrastructure limiting mobility, and a rapid population growth that is adding further tension to the situation due to a certain inability of providing services and due the fact that gas and oil prices have been constantly rising, while the unemployment rate is simultaneously rising, as well.

Policy Framework, Laws and Regulations

General Energy Policy, Energy Strategy

The general approach and strategy intended by the Algerian Ministry of Energy and Mines is constituted by decree no. 07-266, dating the 9th of September 2007. It represents one of the main basic modules, describing the function and role of the Ministry with respect to the intentions of the Algerian government.

In Article 1, the Ministry commits to the elaboration of political and strategic research, the production and valorisation of hydrocarbon, mineral and energetic resources and the embedding of the respective industry in this sector. In Article 5 it furthermore commits to the necessary studies and research and the promotion of sources of renewable energy.

Important Laws and Regulations

Due to the increasing importance of renewable energies, Algeria has created a legal framework concerning the exploitation of renewable energy. The foundation of this legal framework is given by the following legal documents:

• Law no. 99-09 concerning energy cuts (July 28th, 1999)
• Law no. 02-01 concerning electricity and capacity-bound gas distribution (February 5th, 2002)
• Law no. 04-09 concerning the exploitation of renewable energies in the context of sustainable development (August 14th, 2004)

Specific Strategies (Biomass, Renewable Energies, Rural Electrification, Energy Access Strategy etc.)

Especially the law concerning energy cuts is worth mentioning, for it secures the direct and indirect promotion and support of the deployment and exploitation of renewable energies in the form of financial, fiscal and customs-wise perquisites.

Moreover, Algeria has founded the "Algerian Institute of Renewable Energies" (IAER), a public establishment of industrial nature under the authority of the Algerian Ministry of Energy. The founding of this organisation has been recorded by decree of the Ministry of Energy and Mines in January 2011.

Institutional Set Up in the Energy Sector

Governmental Institutions

The Algerian energy sector is politically represented by the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM). MEM is the most important player in the Algerian energy sector. Its mandate is given by decree no. 07-266 of 2010, assuring the ministry’s responsibility of elaboration and implementation of policies and strategies in the context of research, exploitation, production and usage of minerals and energy sources. MEM is assured control of the energy sector. Public institutions and organisations are subordinated to it. MEM is thus engaged in the domains of production, transport, sale and distribution. MEM’s function also comprises the superintendence of the Fonds National des Energies Renouvelables (FNER) and the Fonds National de la Maitrise de l’Energie (FNME).

The FNER, which can be considered to rather be a bank account instead of a separate institution, controls the promotion of renewable energies and regulates budgetary issues. (ibid.) On the basis of decree no. 04-09, the FNER was found in 2009 and is financed by 0,5% of revenues gained from fossil energy resources. In a more global context, the funds main task is the reinforced development of renewable energies in Algeria.

Private Sector (Enterprises, NGOs)

The Algerian energy sector is characterized by a few company networks with national enterprises numerously scattered over the respective branches of the energy sector.
The hydrocarbon and petroleum branch mainly consists of the Groupe SONATRACH, a dominating organisation dealing with the exploitation, transportation and commercialisation of oil and gas products. The subordinated company NAFTAL SPA is a national petrol station chain and is owned 100% by SONATRACH, which itself was found by the government in 1963 (presidential decree no. 63 - 491 December 31st, 1963). SONATRACH is the main player in terms of oil and gaz production and is - despite the fact that it is officially to be a commercial entity - a state-owned company of Algeria with the state being the sole shareholder of SONATRACH. Overall, the SONATRACH group is made up of 29 subordinated companies and organisations.

Just as SONATRACH, Groupe SONELGAZ, responsible for the production and commercialisation of electricity and the national distribution of natural gaz, is likewise state-owned. Together, the two companies are the most important and influential players in the algerian energy sector. In 2001, the found the Algerian Energy Company (AEC), whose main task it is to produce, commercialise, transport and distribute electricity troughout Algeria. Being a part of the SONELGAZ group, the Société Algérienne de Production de l'Electricité (SPE) is in charge of electricity production, as well, whereas the electricity transportation is mainly carried out by the Société Algérienne de Gestion du réseau de Transport de l'Electricité (SGTE). In total, the SONELGAZ group consists of 38 subordinated companies and organisations.

A very particular notice should be given to the fewer institutions that deal with renewable energy and energy efficiency. Although the trend and global awareness of these issues has mainly grown in the last decade, some efforts have been made to approach them in earlier times. L’Agence Nationale pour la Promotion et la Rationalisation de l’Utilisation de l’Energie (APRUE), e.g., was already found in 1985. According to decree no. 99-09, dating July 28th 1999, APRUE's main tasks include amonst others the implementation of the Programme National de Maîtrisse de l'Energie (PNME) and sectorial projects involving partnerships with other sectors (e.g. industry, transportation). Having said that, the descirption of competencies and missions are formulated quite vaguely. Another organisation that should be mentioned explicitly is the New Energy Algeria (NEAL) that was found in 2002. Its function mainly involves the production and development of renewable energies, the establishment of win-win partenerships within the framework of technology-cooperations, and the consultation of national and international enterprises dealing with renewable energies and energy efficiency.

Activities of Other Donors, Activities of NGOs

Algeria's range of foreign donors and their acitivities and forms of support are quite big. Amongst other external donors, such as the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programm (UNDP), the African Development Bank (ADB), the USA, Canada, and Japan, the European Union is among the most active donors. Apart from the individual effort of several EU-member states (e.g. Italy, Spain, and Belgium), the European Investement Bank (EIB) and the European Commission (EC) have contributed decisive support in the recent decades.

Existing Projects

Renewable energy development programme (German version): 

The renewable energy development programme of Algeria schedules a massive increase in the energy production from renewable energy sources until 2030. According to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, this programme will be arranged in four major phases: 

• Installed power capacity of 110 MW by 2013
• Expansion of installed power capacity up to 650 MW by 2015
• By 2020 and yet another phase of capacity development, available capacity for demostic needs is expected to be about 2,600 MW, whereas another 2,000 MW are supposed to be ready for export
• By year 2030 available capacity for domestic needs are envisioned to grow up to 12,000 MW. Export-ready capacities are scheduled to be about 10.000 MW.

Energy efficiency programme:

The energy efficiency programme is big step for Algeria towards an eco-friendly energy policy, showing that an ecologically sensitive use of already existing energy resources are just as important as developing new sources of exploitation. The announced goal is to provide the same service as usual - but with less energy being used in the process of it. Planned provisions to facilitate the desired energy efficiency include thermal insulation in domestic households, an extensive use of energy-saving lamps, efficient public lighting by using sodium vapour lamps, and the promotion of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) as fuel. Furthermore, public commercial vehicles are planned to run with natural gas by 2020. For the moment, a research pilot has been launched in Algier to test the feasibility of this vision. By 2020, all major cities in Algeria are planned to follow this lead. Last but not least a rather ambitious plan is to develop air conditioning technology running with solar power - although this idea is only at the outset and only exists in form of preliminary research, it can be considered to be one of the most changing reforms regarding the high usage of air conditions during summer months.

Further Information

• Official website
• Official website of the Algerian MEM: www.mem-algeria.org/english/index.php
• Algeria entry at The World Factbook