Algeria Inaugurates 300 MW Solar Power Plant in El Oued

On October 26, 2026, Algeria inaugurated a 300-megawatt-peak (MWp) photovoltaic solar power plant in the El Oued province, located in the country’s southeast. The El Fouliya site spans 600 hectares and features 650,000 solar panels. Described as Algeria’s largest photovoltaic plant and the second-largest in Africa by capacity, the facility is set to play a key role in diversifying the nation’s electricity generation.

Strategic Shift Away from Natural Gas

According to the Algerian Press Agency (APS), Energy and Renewable Energy Minister Mourad Adjal officially opened the installation, which was constructed in the Guemar municipality. The project was completed in just 22 months with the participation of a Chinese partner. Notably, the management of the plant has been entrusted to Algerian expertise, as stated by the minister in reports from national press.

The strategic rationale behind this installation is closely tied to the prominent role of natural gas in Algeria’s energy system. The country currently relies heavily on this resource for electricity production. Consequently, the expansion of solar energy can reduce the gas consumption of thermal power plants, allowing Algeria to reserve greater volumes of natural gas for other uses, particularly for export.

This diversification effort occurs against a backdrop where energy supply security remains a critical challenge for many nations. Geopolitical tensions and volatility in oil and gas markets have heightened state interest in local electricity sources that are less dependent on fossil fuels.

Roadmap to 15,000 MW by 2035

The El Fouliya plant stands as the largest in Algeria by capacity and the second-largest in Africa, according to the same source. It is the third major photovoltaic facility commissioned in Algeria in 2026, following the plants in Tendla (El Meghaïer province) and El Ghrous (Biskra province), each with a capacity of 200 MW.

In fact, the Algerian government aims to achieve a total photovoltaic solar production capacity of 15,000 MW by 2035. According to the Ministry of Energy and Renewable Energy, the first phase of this program involves 3,200 MW of capacity distributed across multiple projects in various regions of the country.