Algeria, through its national oil company Sonatrach, is determined to maintain its status as the leading supplier of natural gas in the Mediterranean and African regions. Youssef Khanfar, the central director of new resources at Sonatrach, emphasized this commitment in a statement to the national radio on Monday. He highlighted Algeria’s strategy to preserve its leading position through the exploration of new fields and the enhancement of production in fields currently under development.
Khanfar noted that the efforts to improve field production have borne fruit, especially with the increase of more than 4 billion cubic meters of gas in 2022. He added that there is an aspiration to achieve an increase of more than 10 billion cubic meters during the 2024-2028 period in enhancing the production of the existing fields under development. This ambition aligns with Sonatrach’s goal to meet the growing national demand, which is expected to exceed 60 billion cubic meters annually by 2030, with an annual increase of 3 to 5%.
Moreover, the official stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to improve gas supply to sustain the export market. Concurrently, there are ongoing projects as part of the energy transition, notably through Sonelgaz’s program to develop 15,000 megawatts of solar energy. The development of solar energy, according to Khanfar, will significantly save large quantities of natural gas, with one gigawatt of solar energy equivalent to saving 400 million cubic meters of gas annually.
This approach not only underscores Algeria’s commitment to maintaining its lead in natural gas supply but also highlights its proactive stance on embracing renewable energy sources as part of its energy transition strategy. As Algeria continues to explore new opportunities and invest in sustainable energy, it reaffirms its position as a key player in the global energy market, prioritizing both the expansion of its natural gas exports and the advancement of renewable energy projects.
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