The Saudi Gazette reported that Algeria is expected to invest USD 71 billion in the energy sector over the 5 coming years, becoming thus the third largest investor in the sector in the Middle East and North Africa region.

According to a report released earlier this week by the Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation with its USD 71 billion worth investments in the energy sector over the 2013 to 2017 period, Algeria will hold the third rank after Saudi Arabia with investments totaling USD 165 billion and the United Arab Emirates with USD 107 billion investment.

According to Apicorp forecasts, with the amounts it is expected to inject in the sector, Algeria will rank ahead of Iran, Iraq and Qatar. As to the total energy capital investment by MENA oil producing countries, it is expected to amount to USD 740 billion for the 5 year period 2013 to 2017. Gas producing countries are expected to inject a total investment of USD 140 billion in the energy sector during the same period.

However, the report underlines, unlike oil investments, natural gas projects that are export oriented face market uncertainty because international gas prices have significantly deviated from oil parity and are characterized by differences between regional markets. Compared to past assessments which have been consistently revised to fully reflect adjustments in the power sector, investment appears to be on the rise again.

Source - The Saudi Gazette

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