The primary energy balance shows a deficit of 1.7 Mtoe at the end of May 2023, down 8% compared with the end of May 2022, according to the monthly report on the energy situation for May 2023, published by the National Energy and Mining Observatory. This decline is mainly due to the fall in demand for primary energy, while hydrocarbon production contributed negatively to this fall. The energy independence rate, which measures the ratio of primary energy resources to primary consumption, stood at 53% at the end of May 2023, compared with 52% at the end of May 2022. However, excluding the royalty, the energy independence rate would have been limited to 41% at the end of May 2023, virtually unchanged from the end of May 2022. Primary energy resources stood at 1.9 Mtoe at the end of May 2023, down 7% compared with the same period the previous year. This drop is mainly due to the fall in national production of crude oil and natural gas. According to the report, primary energy resources remain dominated by national oil and gas production, which both account for 74% of the overall primary energy resources. The share of renewable electricity (STEG production only) remains low, accounting for just 1% of primary resources. The fee for the transit of Algerian gas was down by 2% at the end of May 2023 compared with the same period in 2022. Demand for primary energy decreased by 7% between the end of May 2022 and the end of May 2023: Demand for natural gas dropped by 10%, while demand for petroleum products fell by 5%. Demand for natural gas declined by 10% as a result of restrictions on purchases of Algerian gas. In order to meet the entire national demand for electricity, STEG has resorted to electricity imports. There was a slight change in the structure of primary energy demand. The share of demand for petroleum products rose from 48% at the end of May 2022 to 50% at the end of May 2023. On the other hand, the share of natural gas rose from 52% at the end of May 2022 to 50% at the end of May 2023.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse