A heated dispute between the Wali of Béjaïa and the mayor of Chemini, Madjid Ouddak, over the construction of a 400-220 kV power station has reached a boiling point. The mayor recently took to social media to accuse the Wali of violating the law by granting a construction permit for the project despite it having already reached 70% completion. Ouddak argued that the permit should have been obtained before work began, as required by urban planning regulations.
The controversy surrounding the project dates back to 2014 when the power station was initially planned for the Chellata area but was rejected by local residents. The project was subsequently relocated to Chemini, where it has faced continued opposition from local authorities. Ouddak has vowed that the people of Chemini will resist the project, warning of potential consequences if work resumes without their consent.
The Wali of Béjaïa, Ahmed Maâbed, has denied allegations made by Ouddak, stating that the administrative tribunal of Béjaïa had not annulled his decree invalidating the municipal order to halt the project. According to Maâbed, the tribunal rejected the commune's request to annul the decree on November 26, 2019. The Wali emphasized that the project is of strategic importance, serving the national interest and declared as such by executive decree in 2013.
The power station project, which has been allocated a significant budget of 800 billion Algerian dinars, aims to secure the electricity supply for the regions of Béjaïa, Tizi Ouzou, and Bouira. Once completed, the station will interconnect the electrical networks of Cap Djinet in Boumerdès and Aïn Arnat in Sétif with the central and eastern regions. Maâbed stressed that the project will have a positive impact on the region's energy security.
Ouddak had previously announced on local radio that the administrative tribunal had annulled the Wali's decree, rendering the municipal order to halt the project still valid. However, Maâbed's statements contradict this claim, adding to the confusion surrounding the project's status. The dispute between the Wali and the mayor of Chemini has created uncertainty about the project's future.
The project's fate remains uncertain as the Wali and local officials continue to exchange accusations. Residents of Chemini have expressed concerns about the potential environmental and health impacts of the power station. The Wali has maintained that the project is essential for the region's development and will be completed despite local opposition.
The conflict over the 400-220 kV power station project highlights the challenges of implementing large-scale infrastructure projects in Algeria, where local communities often resist development initiatives due to concerns about environmental and social impacts. The project's outcome will likely have significant implications for the region's energy security and economic development.
Key points
- The Wali of Béjaïa and the mayor of Chemini are locked in a dispute over the construction of a 400-220 kV power station, with the mayor accusing the Wali of violating the law.
- The project, allocated a budget of 800 billion Algerian dinars, aims to secure the electricity supply for the regions of Béjaïa, Tizi Ouzou, and Bouira.
- The project's fate remains uncertain as the Wali and local officials continue to exchange accusations, with residents expressing concerns about potential environmental and health impacts.
