A significant agreement was formalized this Thursday in Algiers between Algeria and Chad, paving the way for the construction of a 40-megawatt (MW) power generation facility in N’Djamena.

The accord, signed by Algeria’s Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies, Mourad Adjal, and Chad’s Minister of Water and Energy, Passalé Kanabé Marcelin, outlines the development of this 40 MW electricity plant in the Chadian capital. This initiative underscores a commitment to bolster cooperation between the two nations, aligning with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s directives to support African countries and advance South-South collaboration.

Technical blueprint finalized for the power plant

The signing ceremony followed extensive discussions between Minister Adjal and his Chadian counterpart, who was on a working visit to Algeria. Their talks centered on exploring avenues for bilateral cooperation in the energy and renewable energy sectors, identifying concrete projects for enhancement. This partnership is designed to encompass electricity production, transmission, and distribution, as well as the provision of electrical and gas equipment, alongside comprehensive training programs.

Minister Adjal confirmed that the technical study for the power plant project has been successfully completed. This milestone was reached after technical teams from the Sonelgaz group visited Chad just last week. He emphasized that both parties are now prepared to proceed with the export of necessary equipment, anticipating the imminent groundbreaking ceremony. Furthermore, Adjal announced that Chadian technical personnel would undertake a month-long training program at Sonelgaz schools in Algeria. These teams are slated to manage the power plant’s operations upon its commissioning, and the bilateral cooperation extends to the rehabilitation of N’Djamena’s existing electrical grid.

Algeria: a true benchmark in energy development

Minister Marcelin hailed the agreement for the power plant as a “historic milestone” within the framework of South-South cooperation and a crucial step forward in Algerian-Chadian relations. He recalled that the leaders of both countries laid the groundwork for this robust collaboration during Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno’s official visit to Algeria last April.

Marcelin expressed profound gratitude to President Tebboune for his unwavering support to Chad and his guidance in the energy domain. He highlighted Algeria’s emergence as a “true reference” for numerous African nations, particularly in electricity, owing to its significant production capabilities. Chad, he noted, is keen to leverage Algerian expertise. He also mentioned that 12 Chadian trainees are currently undergoing training in Algeria on power plant operations, with future cohorts expected to benefit from similar programs.

A 100% Algerian-led power plant project

Yazid Djellouli, President and CEO of Sonelgaz International, affirmed that the power plant in Chad will be “one hundred percent Algerian” in terms of its construction, equipment, and workforce. He assured that Chadian authorities would soon commence site preparation for the infrastructure, concurrently with the transfer of equipment and the official launch of works.

Djellouli explained that Sonelgaz International, established last March, aims for greater deployment across Africa, noting a significant influx of requests from various African countries for energy and related infrastructure projects. Saleh Ben Haliki, Director General of TchadElec, lauded the power plant project as one of the initial fruits of the “new relations” between Algeria and Chad in the energy sector. He underscored Chad’s eagerness to benefit from Algerian expertise, considering Algeria has become a “true reference” in electricity coverage.