First Solar Panels Made In Algeria By 2012

ALGIERS, Nov 23 (nemdil) -- The state-run electricity and gas company SONELGAZ announced Sunday the creation of its first manufacture, worth US$100 million, for the production of solar cell panels with an annual capacity of 50 MW and which will be operational by 2012, Algerian news agency (APS) reported.

The announcement was made during the signing ceremony of the new statutes of the project's manager, ''Rouiba Eclairage'', a public company specialising in public lighting equipments, in the presence of Energy and Mining Minister Chakib Khelil and Sonelgaz CEO Noureddine Bouterfa.

The company's shares will be totally transferred to Sonelgaz group in accordance with the new statutes and the resolution of the State Shareholding Council, which were previously held by Cableq.

The future solar panel factory, which will be fully financed by Sonelgaz, will be set up within the site of "Rouiba Eclairage" in the industrial area of Rouiba over an area of 4 hectares, and the calls for tenders for its construction will be launched in December 2009 at the latest, said Khelil.

Sonelgaz group entrusted its engineering department (CEEG) to carry out the engineering studies for the infrastructures and the supply networks and determine the segments of production, as well as the integration of the most appropriate technology and manufacturing process.

The minister pointed out that this integration is in accordance with the strategy adopted by the sector of energy and mining as regards the renewable energies.

In order to achieve this programme in the best conditions, the sector intends to focus on the training of human resources, Khelil added, mentioning the forthcoming creation of a research Institute for renewable energies in Ghardaia province (600-km south of Algiers).

Sonelgaz CEO said that this project will enable Algeria "to have a strong and competitive industry in the field of solar energy equipments."

The solar panels are meant for the electrification of remote rural localities, particularly in the South, the hybridisation of diesel power plants and to meet the specific needs of the customers (telecommunications, railways�). Algeria intends to increase the use of renewable energies in power production to 5 per cent by 2015.

To that end, several projects have been launched, including particularly the hybrid gas/solar plant of Hassi R'mel (south of Algiers) which is due to be delivered by 2010 with a production capacity of 150 MW, in addition to the construction of a 10-MW wind farm.

NEMDIL