Algeria’s Sonelgaz-International expands its African energy footprint with new 40 MW plant in Chad

Less than a month after commissioning a 40-megawatt thermal power plant in Niamey, Sonelgaz-International is set to replicate the project in N’Djamena, marking another milestone in Algeria’s energy export strategy across the continent.

From Niger to Chad: a growing African energy footprint

The newly inaugurated Gorou Banda power plant in Niger—completed in just over two months—serves as a blueprint for the upcoming 40 MW facility in Chad. The success of the Niger project has accelerated plans to launch a similar infrastructure in the Chadian capital, as confirmed during a high-profile ceremony in Niamey.

On June 3, the Algerian Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies, Mourad Adjal, announced that groundbreaking for the Chadian plant would begin within days. Speaking alongside the Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, and representing President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, he emphasized the strategic importance of these cross-border energy initiatives.

Logistics excellence and rapid deployment

Sonelgaz-International CEO, Yazid Djellouli, described the Niger project as a “remarkable industrial and logistical achievement”. The operation required a meticulously coordinated airlift—over 20 flights via Air Algérie Cargo—to transport equipment from Algeria to Niamey. More than 50 engineers and technicians were mobilized on-site since late March, ensuring the plant became operational in record time.

Djellouli highlighted the project’s significance: “This is the first overseas venture for Sonelgaz-International. The lessons learned here will fuel further expansion across Africa.”

The Gorou Banda plant is expected to boost Niger’s national electricity output by 20% while strengthening power supply to the capital. Beyond generation, the company is also conducting feasibility studies to rehabilitate and expand the Niamey-Agadez transmission network, with potential future contracts in the pipeline.

Regional partnerships and future projects

During the Niamey inauguration, the Chadian Minister of Energy reaffirmed commitments made in a May agreement with Algeria to construct the N’Djamena plant. Sonelgaz-International is also exploring opportunities in Ivory Coast and Mozambique, where interest in Algerian energy expertise is growing.

The company aims to foster collaboration between Algerian public and private enterprises in African energy projects, positioning itself as a key player in the continent’s power sector. Training programs for local technicians and plans to establish a spare parts depot in Niger further underscore the long-term commitment to capacity building.

Fati Abarchi, CEO of NIGELEC, praised the Algeria-Niger partnership as “exceptional”, noting that the Gorou Banda plant will “enter the annals of Niger’s energy history.”

The Chadian project, like its predecessor in Niger, reflects a broader trend of Algerian energy companies leveraging their technical prowess to support regional infrastructure development.