Algeria and Chad advance trans-Saharan highway and power plant projects

Strengthening strategic ties through infrastructure and energy cooperation

Algeria and Chad have taken a decisive step in deepening their strategic partnership with the signing of two major agreements this week. The deals, finalized during high-level exchanges in N’Djamena and Algiers, aim to fast-track infrastructure and energy projects first outlined in April, reinforcing South-South collaboration.

Trans-Saharan highway and road infrastructure accelerate

In N’Djamena, Algeria’s Minister of Public Works and Basic Infrastructure, Abdelkader Djellaoui, and Chad’s Minister of Infrastructure, Unblocking and Road Maintenance, Amir Idriss Kourda, formalized an agreement to streamline joint infrastructure initiatives. The pact was signed during the second day of a working visit by the Algerian delegation to Chad, following a coordination meeting that highlighted rapid progress since the April 22 bilateral accords were signed in Algiers.

Chad’s infrastructure minister commended the rapid momentum in implementing the agreements, noting tangible advancements such as technical site visits and the initiation of feasibility studies for the trans-Saharan highway crossing Chadian territory. These efforts are expected to enhance regional connectivity and economic integration across the Sahel.

40 MW power plant to boost N’Djamena’s energy capacity

On the same day in Algiers, Algeria’s Minister of Energy and Renewables, Mourad Adjal, and Chad’s Minister of Water and Energy, Passalé Kanabé Marcelin, signed a landmark deal to construct a 40-megawatt power plant in N’Djamena. This project aligns with Algeria’s policy of supporting African nations and fostering South-South cooperation in energy development.

The agreement covers a broad spectrum of cooperation in electricity and renewable energy, including power generation, transmission, and distribution, as well as the supply of electrical and gas equipment and workforce training. Adjal confirmed that technical studies for the project have been finalized after recent visits by Sonelgaz teams to Chad. Both sides are now preparing for equipment exports ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony, with Chadian technicians set to undergo a month-long training program in Algeria’s Sonelgaz schools to ensure efficient plant operations post-completion.

The collaboration also includes plans to rehabilitate N’Djamena’s existing power grid, further stabilizing the country’s energy supply.

A historic milestone for Algerian-Chadian relations

Chad’s energy minister described the agreement as a historic turning point in bilateral relations, emphasizing that its foundations were laid during Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno’s official visit to Algiers in April. Marcelin praised Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune for his unwavering support in the energy sector, noting that Algeria has become a benchmark for several African countries in electricity infrastructure and delivery. He highlighted that 12 Chadian trainees are currently undergoing training in Algeria, with additional cohorts expected to follow.

Yazid Djellouli, CEO of Sonelgaz International, underscored that the power plant will be entirely Algerian in design, equipment, and labor. He revealed that Sonelgaz International, established in March, has already received multiple inquiries from African nations for similar energy and infrastructure projects. Chad’s national electricity company director, Saleh Ben Haliki, hailed the initiative as one of the first tangible outcomes of the renewed relationship between the two countries, reaffirming Chad’s commitment to leveraging Algeria’s recognized expertise in expanding power coverage across the region.