Aurés Solaire commissions Algeria’s second module factory

French-Algerian module manufacturer Aurés Solaire has inaugurated its 30 MW PV panel factory in the Ain Yagout industrial area near Batna, eastern Algeria, in the presence of the country’s prime minister Abdelmalek Sellal.

The company and French industrial equipment provider Vincent Industrie invested €10 million ($10.9 million) in the construction of the facility, whose first development plans were revealed in 2013.

Modules produced at the facility rely on the NICE (New Industrial Cell Encapsulation) technology developed by French solar company Apollon Solar. The factory’s fully automated 30 MW line manufacturing 240 W 60-cell monocrystalline modules was provided by Vincent Industrie.

Aurés Solaire intends to increase the capacity of the facility at a later stage, in order to meet increasing demand both in Algeria and abroad. The opening of the factory arrives right before the request for proposals for 4 GW of solar announced by the Algerian government will be issued. The tender will include a considerable quota of domestic content requirements and impose a wide use of modules and PV components locally manufactured.

Algerian electronics manufacturer Condor Electronics, which also owns and operates a 75 MW module production facility in the country, agreed to acquire a 50% stake in Aures Solaire in 2014, with Vincent Industrie maintaining its 49% share.

Condor Electronics started manufacturing activities at its facility in Bordj Bou Arreridj in late 2013. The company also revealed plans to third the country’s third 120 MW solar manufacturing facility last year.

The Algerian Government has recently adopted the decree for the implementation of a 4 GW solar energy tender. The decree was the necessary step to make the auction process progress, and to launch the invitation to bid (ITB) phase, which is set to be issued in the upcoming days.