1. Introduction and Analytical Framing

Algeria stands at a pivotal crossroads in its energy and development trajectory. Long reliant on hydrocarbons as the backbone of economic growth, export revenues, and geopolitical influence, the country now faces a dual and increasingly pressing imperative: to reduce structural dependence on fossil fuels while safeguarding equitable access to energy for its population. Within this context, the pursuit of a just energy transition—one that is socially inclusive, territorially balanced, and economically empowering—emerges not merely as a policy option, but as an urgent national necessity.

This report seeks to contribute to the national energy debate by examining pathways toward a just energy transition in Algeria, understood not simply as a technical shift toward renewable energy sources, but as a broader societal transformation rooted in equity, participation, and recognition. In this study, a just energy transition is defined as a process that ensures the fair distribution of energy-related benefits and burdens, guarantees meaningful participation in decision-making, and formally recognizes historically marginalized groups and territories within energy governance. The analysis is structured around three interrelated operational dimensions of energy justice: distributional justice, which examines how costs, benefits, and opportunities are allocated; procedural justice, which assesses access to decision-making and governance processes; and recognitional justice, which focuses on whose voices, identities, and territorial realities are acknowledged or excluded. Grounded in Algeria’s specific social, legal, territorial, and institutional contexts, the report aims to inform policymakers and stakeholders of the reforms required to ensure that the energy transition becomes a genuine vehicle for justice.

The energy transition debate in Algeria has largely been framed around megawatt targets, infrastructure rollouts, and investment requirements. While these dimensions are indispensable, they tend to obscure more fundamental social and institutional questions: who benefits from the transition, who bears its costs, and who remains invisible in planning and decision-making processes. This report deliberately widens the analytical lens to foreground the distributional, procedural, and recognitional dimensions of energy justice, with particular attention to intergenerational equity, decentralization, civil society engagement, and persistent and regional disparities.

The study is grounded in the argument that Algeria’s energy transition will not achieve long-term sustainability or broad-based legitimacy unless governance frameworks are reformed to decentralize decision-making, local actors are empowered in planning and implementation, and national energy ambitions are explicitly aligned with inclusive development and social equity goals. It is assumed that without such structural shifts, the transition risks reinforcing existing disparities and institutional bottlenecks rather than overcoming them.

1.1 Framing Questions

To guide the analysis, the report is organized around three core questions:

• Can Algeria undertake a socially just and territorially balanced energy transition while remaining a major hydrocarbon exporter?

This question addresses the tension between continuity and transformation, whether the current model can evolve to integrate renewable energy without disrupting the economic and political role of hydrocarbons.

• Who is currently excluded from Algeria’s energy system and policy processes?

The study highlights the structural exclusion of youth, women, informal workers, and residents of marginalized territories from Algeria’s energy ecosystem. These groups were consulted through focus groups, and their insights are reflected throughout the report, where their experiences help identify practical entry points for a more inclusive transition.

• How do legal frameworks, public governance mechanisms, and financing tools promote or hinder justice in the energy sector?

This line of inquiry explores the structural, institutional, and fiscal constraints that shape Algeria’s energy landscape and determine the inclusivity of its reforms.

1.2 Methodology and Analytical Approach

The report adopts a qualitative, exploratory, and participatory methodology. It combines multiple sources of evidence and draws from both institutional and societal perspectives. The research process involved three main components:

• A comprehensive desk review of Algerian energy policy documents, legal texts, strategic plans, and international frameworks relevant to climate justice and sustainable development.
• A series of semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders across different sectors, including representatives of civil society organizations, youth-led initiatives, energy professionals, and regional actors. These interviews were designed to capture perceptions, constraints, and expectations related to the energy transition at various territorial levels. While the report sought territorial representativeness, primary data collection focused on selected highland and southern regions and thus may not fully reflect the diversity of experiences across all Algerian provinces.

Two focus group discussions were conducted with distinct categories of participants. The first brought together civil society representatives, including academic researchers, energy and climate experts, youth-led climate justice activists, members of scientific associations working on energy issues, and former professionals from the national energy sector. The second focus group was composed of private sector stakeholders, namely actively involved economic operators and entrepreneurs in Algeria’s energy value chain. Together, these consultations provided qualitative insights into public perceptions, governance challenges, and regional asymmetries related to the energy transition. The diversity of engagements was intended to reduce potential bias linked to the availability, responsiveness, and positionality of participating stakeholders, which may otherwise have influenced the perspectives captured.