Algerians consumed 17.7 million tons of fuel in 2022 – Al-Hiwar Al-Jazaeryya

The head of the Fuel Control Authority (ARH), Rashid Nadel, revealed that the national fuel consumption amounted to approximately 17.7 million tons during 2022, an increase of 3 percent compared to 2021, due to the economic recovery that the country is witnessing in several sectors, especially the services and industry sectors.
And Nadel explained that he expects “this growth in consumption to continue in the coming years, to reach about 41 million tons by 2050, with an increase of about 3 million tons every year,” according to the official, who stressed that “the national production capabilities are able to meet this demand.”
He added that during the aforementioned period, the consumption of diesel oil amounted to 10.1 million tons, with an estimated increase of more than 4 percent compared to 2021, which consumption is “probable to increase due to the economic growth that Algeria is witnessing.”
And he continued, “The production capacity of diesel fuel is estimated at 9 million tons per year, and it will reach 12.5 million tons in the horizons of 2030, with the entry of the Skikda project to convert fuel into diesel in 2028, which will contribute to raising production by nearly 4 million tons.”
As for the consumption of liquefied petroleum gas – fuel, it witnessed an increase of 20 percent.
It reached 1.5 million tons in 2022, compared to 1.2 million tons in 2021.
This increase is due to the efforts made by various stakeholders for several years to promote this product that respects the environment and is offered to the consumer at a very attractive price (9 DZD/liter), compared to other fuels.
As for the consumption of gasoline, it witnessed a decline of 2.26 percent, reaching 3.3 million tons, compared to 3.4 million tons in 2021. This decrease is due to the increase in the consumption of liquefied petroleum gas – fuel, which is expected to reach 6.8 million tons by 2050, as the production capacity for this is estimated Fuel is currently at 4 million tons per year.
Aviation fuel consumption amounted to 468 thousand tons in 2022, compared to 297 thousand tons in 2021, an increase of 58 percent, while marine fuel consumption reached 219 thousand tons. The consumption of “butane” and “propane” decreased by 2.26 percent, reaching 1.34 million tons, while the consumption of “bitumen” reached 619 thousand tons, a decrease of 20 percent.
In the same context, Mr. Nadel praised “the efforts made by the five current refineries, which can raise production by 300,000 tons per year, in addition to Sonatrach’s 2025 plan to raise production to 500,000 tons.”
In order to reduce this consumption, the official indicated that “the citizen should adopt the mentality of rationalizing consumption, as one liter of economical fuel can be exported to foreign markets and converted into hard currency, which is beneficial to the national economy and the citizen.
He noted that “the low prices of these products encourage their consumption, so it is necessary to reconsider the price margin by activating the method of direct support directed to the eligible social groups of families with weak and limited incomes.”
On the other hand, Mr. Nadel revealed that the Fuel Control Authority will present, in the coming days, a platform directed to investors wishing to obtain licenses, in order to reduce the period of studying files and create direct contact between the authority and the economic operator, as well as an internal regulatory program that determines the locations of oil facilities for the purpose of Helping to develop a national plan for oil investments.