Algeria will add 4,500 MW renewable power capacity by 2020, Energy Minister, Salah Khebri said, noting that a call for expression of interest for investors will be launched soon, RenewablesSeeNews reported.

The Algerian state-owned gas and electricity operator, Sonelgaz, is managing a 400 MW program, which is currently being implemented, the minister affirmed. He added that 84 MW had already started operation and the rest of the 400 MW are expected to be commissioned by June or July this year, Algerian Renewable Energies Development Center (CDER) reports.

Minister Khebri also reminded that the national program for development of renewable energy, adopted on May 24, 2015, targets a capacity of 22,000 MW by 2030 or 25% of the electricity generation capacity in the country.

Algeria has exceptional conditions for the production of solar electricity. The annual average of sunshine makes of it a prime site in North Africa. Algeria is betting more and more on renewable energy to complement fossil fuels, and to meet the growing energy needs by around 7% per year, according to AllAfrica.