(Ecofin Agency) - The Algerian minister of energy just revealed that 27 billion dinars have been allocated to the country’s gas programme. This will help pay all companies participating to the project.

The gas programme aims to increase the country’s penetration rate for natural gas. So far, it helped cover 60% of the territory, according to its Director, Mustapha Guitouni. The official added that the scheme will benefit from an additional funding of 15 billion dinars before the end of 2017.

First to benefit from the initiative is the Tizi-Ouzou wilaya in which the minister was expressing himself as gas was being made available to a total of 1,408 homes located across the Timizart, Tizi-Ouzou and Tirmitine communities, APS disclosed. The region has a penetration rate of 76% for natural gas and an electrification rate of 97%.

Aaron Akinocho