A significant agreement was formally concluded this Thursday in Algiers, marking a new chapter in cooperation between Algeria and Chad for the construction of a 40-megawatt electrical power station in N’Djamena.
Mourad Adjal, Algeria’s Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies, alongside Passalé Kanabé Marcelin, the Chadian Minister of Water and Energy, affixed their signatures to the pact. This landmark initiative, focused on establishing a 40 MW electricity generation facility in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, underscores a concerted effort to strengthen bilateral relations. The move aligns with the directives of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who champions support for African nations and the advancement of South-South cooperation.
Technical assessment completed
The signing ceremony followed productive discussions between Minister Adjal and his Chadian counterpart, who was on a working visit to Algeria. Their talks explored avenues for bilateral cooperation across the energy and renewable energy sectors, focusing on tangible project development. This partnership is designed to encompass various aspects, including electricity production, transmission, and distribution, the supply of electrical and gas equipment, and specialized training programs.
In this context, Minister Adjal revealed that the technical study for the power plant’s construction has been finalized. This achievement comes after Algerian technical teams from the Sonelgaz group recently visited Chad. He emphasized that both nations are now prepared to proceed with the export of necessary equipment, anticipating the imminent laying of the project’s foundation stone. Furthermore, Minister Adjal announced the upcoming arrival of Chadian technical teams for a month-long training program at Sonelgaz academies in Algeria. These teams will eventually be responsible for operating the power plant once it becomes operational. He also noted that the expanding bilateral cooperation would extend to the crucial rehabilitation of N’Djamena’s existing electrical grid.
Algeria: a benchmark in energy
Minister Marcelin, for his part, described the agreement for the power plant as a “historic milestone” within the framework of South-South cooperation and a pivotal step in Algero-Chadian relations. He highlighted that the leaders of both countries had laid the groundwork for robust cooperation during Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno’s official visit to Algeria last April, fostering strong ties between the two sister nations.
Expressing profound gratitude to the Algerian President for his unwavering support to Chad and his assistance in the energy domain, Minister Marcelin lauded Algeria as a “true reference” for numerous African countries, particularly in electricity. He attributed this reputation to Algeria’s impressive production capabilities. He further indicated his country’s strong desire to leverage Algerian expertise, noting that 12 Chadian trainees are currently undergoing instruction in Algeria on power plant operations, with future cohorts set to benefit from similar specialized training.
A fully algerian-engineered power facility
Yazid Djellouli, President and CEO of Sonelgaz International, informed the press that the power plant in Chad would be “one hundred percent Algerian” in terms of its execution, equipment, and workforce. He assured that Chadian authorities would soon commence site preparation work for the infrastructure, concurrently with the transfer of equipment and the project’s official launch.
Djellouli explained that Sonelgaz International, since its establishment last March, aims for greater expansion across Africa. The company has already received numerous requests from various African nations for energy and related infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, Saleh Ben Haliki, Director General of Tchadienne d’électricité (TchadElec), commended the power plant initiative as one of the initial significant outcomes of the “new relations” between Algeria and Chad in the energy sector. He underscored Chad’s eagerness to benefit from Algerian expertise, acknowledging Algeria’s status as a “true reference” in electrical coverage.
