Mourad Adjal, former chief executive of Sonelgaz, has been appointed Algeria’s new Minister of Energy and Renewable Energy.
The announcement was made on September 14, 2025, by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune during a cabinet reshuffle, marking a new phase for Algeria’s energy sector.
The appointment comes at a time when Algeria is seeking to strengthen its hydrocarbons base while accelerating the shift toward renewable energy.
Adjal will replace Mohamed Arkab, who previously held the position.
The new leadership takes effect immediately, with the aim of driving reforms and ensuring greater efficiency across the country’s energy system.
Who is Mourad Adjal?
Adjal, an experienced engineer and manager, is well known for leading Sonelgaz, Algeria’s main electricity and gas provider.
Under his leadership, the utility expanded its services and upgraded its systems to better meet the country’s growing energy needs.
Today, Sonelgaz delivers electricity to over 12 million people and gas to 8 million households, with electrification at 98 percent and gas access at 69 percent.
Career journey
The newly appointed Minister earned a State Engineering degree in Electrotechnics from the University of Annaba in 1991, which laid the foundation for his career in Algeria’s energy sector.
His career combines both technical expertise with international exposure.
He strengthened this foundation through executive training at ESSEC Paris, ESG Groupe Paris, and Euro Med Marseille.
Over the years, he has held key leadership positions across several Sonelgaz subsidiaries.
In these roles, he built a track record for managing large-scale operations and driving strategic reforms in Algeria’s energy sector.
- 2002 – Operational Management, ESSEC Paris
- 2008 – MBA in Marketing-Management, ESG Groupe Paris
- 2009 – Leadership studies, Euro Med Marseille
His corporate journey began within Sonelgaz subsidiaries, where he served as:
- CEO of SOPIEG (2010)
- CEO of FOSC (2012–2015)
- CEO of SDE (2016–2017)
At SADEG, he oversaw nationwide electricity and gas distribution, leading to his appointment as Chairman and CEO of Sonelgaz.
By March 2022, Adjal became President and Director General of Sonelgaz and joined Med-TSO, the Mediterranean association of transmission system operators.
Future outlook
With three decades in Algeria’s energy system, his new role represents the result of long-standing experience.
It also marks a defining test of leadership at a critical moment for the sector.
His ability to leverage Algeria’s gas strength while advancing renewable diversification will shape the country’s position in North Africa and beyond.
