Algeria: Promises to promote solar, ‘save’ Sonelgaz

Speaking to parliament in mid-September, Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia said Algeria should promote a policy to rebalance its economy in which all energy types should be developed, including renewables – reaffirming the government’s commitment to solar power – and unconventional resources, such as shales. Promotion of solar will require private investment, which can happen only with “a gradual evolution of tariffs, a severe struggle against illegal connections and a firm policy towards recovering debt from consumers”, one report said.