Russian companies interested in cooperation with Algeria in renewable energy sources - Energy Ministry

MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) - Russian companies are interested in cooperation with Algeria in the field of renewable energy, the Energy Ministry said in a statement.

"[Energy Minister] Nikolai Shulginov noted that Russian companies are interested in implementing projects on reconstruction and modernization of power generation facilities, as well as development of cooperation in the field of renewable energy," the statement said.

Shulginov had discussions with Algerian Minister of Energy and Mining Mohamed Arkab on the work of Russian oil and gas companies in the local market in terms of oil and gas field development and production of hard-to-recover oil reserves, development of lightning protection systems for reservoirs and cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy, the ministry said.

As reported, consultations between the countries in the nuclear sphere began back in 2014. Talk was of the possible construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP) in the African country, and it was previously envisaged that Algeria would need a plant in 2026.

Russia's Technopromexport has already been involved in energy projects in Algeria, and Inter RAO has also previously shown interest in conventional power generation in Algeria and was ready to build substations in the country.