Sonelgaz Expedites Power Grids for Southern Food Security Projects
Sonelgaz is accelerating the electrification of three major agro-industrial projects in Algeria's southern regions, deploying extensive power infrastructure to bolster national food security. Minister Mourad Adjal has issued firm directives to expedite these strategic works, which include the Baladna, Cevital, and BF…
Sonelgaz is accelerating the deployment of electrical infrastructure for three major agro-industrial projects in Algeria's southern regions. This initiative is designed to enhance national food security, with Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies, Mourad Adjal, issuing firm instructions on November 12, 2026, to expedite work and ensure deadlines are met. The strategic program involves installing 1,237 kilometers of overhead power lines and constructing 10 transformation stations to support the Baladna dairy complex in Adrar, the Cevital sugar refinery in Ghardaïa, and the Bonifiche Ferraresi (BF El Djazair) cereal hub in Timimoun.
The Baladna Algerian-Qatari project accounts for approximately 62% of the planned electrical lines, totaling 767 kilometers and eight transformation stations. Provisional power for Baladna was secured through a 40 MVA mobile station, with permanent infrastructure showing 87% completion for the 150 MVA transformation equipment and 70% for the 220 kV high-tension line as of April. Additionally, a company has been designated to provide the Baladna plant with 15,000 cubic meters of gas per hour by August 2027. For the BF El Djazair project, Sonelgaz completed provisional electrical connection by April, which facilitated the first wheat harvest on 1,600 hectares on May 14.
These projects represent significant investments in Algeria's agricultural sector. The Baladna complex, a $3.5 billion partnership with the National Investment Fund, spans 219,000 hectares across three poles and aims to fulfill 50% of national milk powder requirements. Construction of its milk powder plant reached 28% completion by October 19. The BF El Djazair Algerian-Italian joint venture, with a $420 million investment, covers 36,000 hectares and includes storage silos and processing units for products like pasta. Meanwhile, Cevital's $600 million integrated complex in Ghardaïa combines a 1,200-hectare agricultural concession with a sugar production plant, targeting production by 2028 and aiming to produce local sugar while valorizing beet pulp and molasses for animal feed.
