NEW YORK – Algeria has always encouraged initiatives aimed at supporting developing countries’ access to energy, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad, Ramtane Lamamra, said on Friday during the high-level meeting on energy, held on the sidelines of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“At the international and regional levels, Algeria has always encouraged initiatives aimed at supporting developing countries’ access to energy, like the energy program of the New Partnership for the Development of the African continent. This conviction is reflected on the ground by the realization of various energy interconnections, including electricity, with the neighboring countries “, declared the Minister while presenting, on behalf of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the contribution of Algeria to this debate.
He recalled that the energy sector is one of the essential areas on which the success of national development policies is based.
Algeria since its independence, he added, has worked to develop comprehensive social and economic policies to meet the basic needs of Algerian citizens, including the supply of energy, especially in remote areas, designated by government as “gray areas”.
These efforts, which continue to be deployed on the ground, have resulted in an energy connection coverage rate of around 98%, or the equivalent of 45 million consumers, the Minister pointed out in this regard.
In addition, Algeria, which has great potential in the energy sector, is still working for the development of basic infrastructure in its energy sector.
It also proceeded to adapt its legal framework to reaffirm its position as a strategic and reliable partner in this area, he stressed. Referring to the efforts made by Algeria within the framework of the fight against climate change, the Minister indicated that the country is committed within the framework of the Paris agreement to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 7% by 2030, based on an ambitious program aimed, among other things, at developing the renewable energy sector, in order to achieve a production capacity of around 15,000 megawatts.
Mr. Lamamra, furthermore, clarified that the success of national policies aimed at achieving the sustainable development goals, including the seventh goal, remains dependent on a rational approach allowing all countries to move forward to reach this goal.
As such, he underlined a few principles that should make it possible to tackle questions related to the energy sector in a perspective of sustainable development, including that of the recognition of the sovereignty of States over their natural resources to ensure their economic independence.
The Minister recommended to support developing countries in the implementation of their sustainable development policies in accordance with the imperatives of national requirements and to encourage investments in the field of energy, including those related to energy transition and renewable energies.
Mr. Lamamra also pleaded, during this meeting, for the establishment of frameworks which facilitate the effective transfer of technologies and knowledge in the field of energy.
APS
