Sonatrach, Eni to build more solar farms to decarbonise oil production in Algeria

Italian oil and gas major Eni SpA (BIT:ENI) has broken the ground on a second 10-MW solar park in south-eastern Algeria that will be built as part of an alliance with government-owned sector company Sonatrach to support the decarbonisation of oil production.

The new solar photovoltaic (PV) plant will be located in the Bir Rebaa North (BRN) oil field in the Berkine basin, doubling the green energy capacity available to power the upstream processes. The project follows the commissioning of another 10-MW solar facility in 2018 which was the first PV plant developed by the two companies as part of their cooperation.

A third solar park will be built at the Menzel Ledjmet East Project (MLE) production complex, also in the Berkine Basin with construction work set to begin in 2023.

Additionally, the two partners have also launched a research initiative, dubbed the Solar Lab, under which they will test various solar panels in the extreme irradiation conditions of southern Algeria. The aim of the project is to collect data and select the most efficient technology. Universities and other public institutions will be also able to use Solar Lab for research purposes.

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