Algeria is currently a gas exporter, but the national strategy is shifting. The state is moving toward a “Green Baseload” by commissioning nine solar plants by summer 2026. This is a calculated phase to reach 3,200 MW in the immediate term and 15,000 MW by 2030-35.
The reasoning is found in the geography. Algeria has an annual average irradiation of 2,000 kWh/m2. Using this natural resource is a logical step to meet domestic demand while preserving gas assets for other uses.
The Algeria Renewable Energy Program (AREP) uses a competitive procurement model. This is a departure from previous state-led methods. The program uses a clear and open selection process for Independent Power Producers (IPPs), using lessons from energy markets in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Angola.
The goal is to move past surface-level talk of energy shifts. Instead, the focus is on financial profitability. This is achieved through:
• Site identification: Choosing locations based on technical and social studies to ensure feasibility.
• Standardised procurement: Using established methods to ensure the 13.5 GW solar target by 2030 is met.
• Execution: The 200 MW facilities at El Ghrous (Biskra) and Tendla (El M’Ghair) are the first indicators of this rollout, with operations expected by late January 2026.
The stakes are high. By completing these nine plants, Algeria demonstrates it can manage utility-scale generation through a structured framework. It is a signal to investors that the country is ready for private capital in the power sector.
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The Ministry of Energy and Renewable Energies is betting on these specific deadlines to prove the strategy. If these dates hold, Algeria moves from a gas-dependent nation toward a role as a regional leader in renewable infrastructure.
For those watching the sector, the focus should not be on the panels themselves, but on the technical and legal framework that allows these projects to exist.
This framework includes negotiation support and capacity building to handle legal and regulatory issues. If the January 2026 deadline is met, it confirms that Algeria’s new model for private-sector involvement is functional.
By Thuita Gatero, Managing Editor, Africa Digest News. He specializes in conversations around data centers, AI, cloud infrastructure, and energy.
