The Director of Electricity and Gas Distribution for the Béjaïa wilaya (province), Bachir Djebbari, provided a detailed presentation this Wednesday outlining the major capital investments deployed to modernize local infrastructure and guarantee top-tier service quality, achieved despite the heavy burden of outstanding customer debts.
During a press conference reviewing the 2025 fiscal year, Djebbari revealed that out of a total revenue of 10,422 million dinars, the utility company funneled 3,544 million dinars directly into expanding and upgrading its regional infrastructure. Supported by a core workforce of 859 corporate employees, the provincial division’s operations generate an additional 1,143 indirect jobs across the region.
These expansion efforts are yielding substantial results, particularly for residential natural gas services, where the regional connection rate surged from 65% in 2021 to 90% by the close of 2025. The domestic gas network across Béjaïa now spans 8,134 kilometers, supplying 245,843 households. Meanwhile, the electrical grid extends across 9,064 kilometers, covering 93% of the province and powering 422,184 homes.
Among the standout achievements highlighted by the distribution directorate, the rural outreach program targeting underdeveloped “shadow zones” has reached 100% completion, with 201 individual operations finalized to bring utility access to 2,505 homes. In the agricultural sector, 1,308 farms have been linked to the power grid, with another 1,000 scheduled for connection in the coming months.
Furthermore, Sonelgaz has consistently supported the province’s high-stakes industrial projects. Most notably, the utility established a robust 220 KV network to guarantee power security for the upcoming seawater desalination facility in Tighremet (Toudja). It also executed grid expansions (30 kV) and deployed mobile substations to support the regional pumping hubs operated by the national water utility, Algérienne des Eaux (ADE).
Yet, despite these positive development metrics, the regional branch of Sonelgaz is battling severe operational setbacks that are draining its financial reserves.
Vandalism, Power Theft, and Financial Deficits
Infrastructure vandalism and unauthorized interference with utility networks have caused a direct financial loss exceeding 103.48 million dinars. This deficit stems from 430 recorded instances of network interference (causing 9.5 million dinars in damages) alongside 454 incidents of direct facility vandalism (resulting in a 160 million dinar financial hit).
Compounding these structural losses is widespread energy theft. Djebbari reported that 2,274 power fraud cases were identified, with 786 of those matters already referred to the courts for legal prosecution. Meanwhile, outstanding debts owed to Sonelgaz by households, public administrative offices, and industrial clients have climbed to a staggering 4.6 billion dinars. This fiscal drag, the director emphasized, “poses a severe obstacle to the company’s future investment ambitions.”
To mitigate high demand spikes during the approaching peak summer season, Sonelgaz has initiated a comprehensive readiness strategy backed by a 5,050 million dinar emergency budget.
This seasonal roadmap prioritizes the elimination of distribution bottlenecks and the systematic overhaul of primary transmission lines. The contingency plan has already delivered seven new power generation substations, injecting an additional capacity of 1,320 MVA into the grid. It also features the deployment of seven large-scale transformers (ranging from 220/400 KV down to 60/30 KV capacities) and the development of five brand-new high-voltage transmission corridors covering a total distance of 218.9 kilometers.
Finally, Djebbari noted that the company’s modernization drive includes a broad diversification of customer-facing services. This includes opening five new commercial branches, rolling out 26 electric vehicle charging stations across the province, and completing the cost-free installation of 625,714 carbon monoxide detectors in consumer homes to enhance residential safety.