The mayors of four communes in Algeria's Chemini region, including Akfadou, Tibane, Souk Oufella, and Chemini, gathered at the Chemini APC headquarters to discuss the delayed gas connection project. The meeting, which included village committees, aimed to address the slow progress of the project and find a solution to the issue. The mayors expressed their frustration with the delay, citing a written commitment from the Société de distribution d'électricité et de gaz (SDE) de Béjaïa dated January 19, 2015.
The 2015 agreement stipulated that the gas connection works would be completed in the first half of 2019. However, the project has faced significant delays, prompting the mayors and village committees to take action. An assembly was held to discuss the issue, and a decision was made to organize a sit-in protest in front of the SDE de Béjaïa headquarters on November 18, 2019. The protest aimed to pressure the SDE to resume work on the project and provide a timeline for its completion.
The mayor of Chemini emphasized that thousands of households are waiting to be connected to the natural gas network. He noted that while some localities have completed the connection works, many areas remain unconnected. The village committees of the Chemini region have repeatedly called for the connection of their households to the gas network, citing the difficulties they face during the winter months due to the region's isolation and harsh weather conditions.
The region's residents have previously organized protests and demonstrations to demand action from the authorities. The delayed gas connection has become a major concern for the villagers, who feel neglected by the government. The situation is particularly worrying given the region's history of being cut off during winter due to heavy snowfall. Recently, over 1,100 households in the Akfadou commune were connected to the gas network, but the residents of the other four communes in Chemini remain unconnected.
The mayors and village committees have decided to take further action if their demands are not met. They have set a deadline for the SDE to resume work on the project within a week. If the SDE fails to comply, the mayors have threatened to take more radical measures. The situation remains tense, with the villagers eagerly awaiting a resolution to the issue.
The delayed gas connection project has become a source of frustration for the residents of the Chemini region. The villagers are calling for immediate action to address their concerns and provide them with access to the natural gas network. The authorities must take into account the difficulties faced by the region and work towards finding a solution to the issue.
The protest in front of the SDE de Béjaïa headquarters was part of a larger effort to draw attention to the issue. The mayors and village committees are determined to find a solution to the delayed gas connection project and ensure that their communities are connected to the natural gas network.
Key points
- The Algerian government must address the concerns of the villagers in the Chemini region and work towards completing the delayed gas connection project.
