During a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday 11 April as part of the EU-Algeria strategic energy partnership that was launched in 2015, European Commissioner for Energy and Climate Miguel Arias Cañete and Algeria's Minister for Energy Noureddine Boutarfa agreed to work on boosting European investment in Algerian gas and renewable energy.
Assessing the progress on EU-Algeria energy cooperation since the first Euro-Algerian business forum on energy in May 2016 (see EUROPE 11557), Cañete and Boutarfa hailed the "growing quality and intensity" of the bilateral energy dialogue because of meetings that are now regular between the two joint groups of experts on natural gas, on the one side, and renewable energy and energy efficiency, on the other.
Cañete and Boutarfa discussed the prospects of development in the hydrocarbons sector in Algeria, especially natural gas, stating that it is a "strategic issue" for both parties. The EU reaffirmed its commitment to being the "main importer of Algerian gas in the coming years" and Algeria reaffirmed its commitment to being a "major and dependable mid- to long-term" supplier.
Algeria spoke of prospects of "strong growth" in its natural gas production and export potential, and the two parties decided "to work on increasing European investment in the Algerian hydrocarbon sector, and on continuing their dialogue aimed at strengthening the attractiveness of the investment framework", according to a joint press release.
Algeria presented the ambitious objectives of its policy on deploying renewables, especially the first call for tenders to investors, which will be launched for the construction of solar photovoltaic plants with a total capacity of 4,050 megawatts. It said it is counting on the EU's support to mobilise European companies to participate in the project. Underlining the scope of this initiative, Cañete called on European investors to take part in it.
The two parties also underscored the need to promote energy efficiency, and agreed to explore paths of cooperation in this area, especially with the support of European financial institutions. Cañete and Boutarfa stated that the strategic partnership will also be able to enjoy the support of the European technical and financial assistance programme for renewables and energy efficiency in Algeria, which is equipped with €10 million, and for which the financing agreement was signed at the EU-Algeria Association Council on 14 March. The programme will be implemented "soon".
In addition, the parties decided to step up and deepen actions as part of EU-Algeria energy cooperation, and they agreed to organise a second business forum at decision-making level in Algiers and to assess progress at their next meeting in 2018. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)