In a significant move to enhance international partnerships, the CEO of Sonelgaz, Mourad Ajal, met with the Regional Director for North Africa of the French Development Agency (AFD), Cecile Couharde, in Algiers this Thursday. The meeting focused on exploring potential collaboration areas, according to a statement from Sonelgaz.
The discussions, held at Sonelgaz’s headquarters with several executive members and the French Agency’s representative in Algeria present, are part of Sonelgaz’s strategy to support its international development agenda. Ajal expressed Sonelgaz’s interest in collaborating with AFD on developing studies and solutions in energy storage, green hydrogen production, and network digitalization.
Highlighting Algeria’s substantial electricity production capacity, Ajal pointed out the challenges Sonelgaz faces in managing energy distribution efficiently, especially as production significantly exceeds consumption rates. This situation presents a strategic challenge in formulating an effective energy consumption model.
Additionally, Ajal mentioned a project to export electricity to Italy via a submarine cable, which requires foreign partners for financing under a win-win partnership agreement.
For her part, Couharde expressed AFD’s interest in all proposed areas of cooperation, noting Europe’s significant energy needs, including electricity and gas. She commended Sonelgaz for its credibility and seriousness, making it a key partner for the French Agency.
This meeting marks a step towards strengthening bilateral cooperation between Algeria and France in the energy sector.
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