While oil and gas continue to drive Middle Eastern growth, offering abundant liquidity and available investment capital, crude is doubtlessly finite. Much like its brethren countries to the east, the North African governments of Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia gain substantially from surpluses in hydrocarbons and liquefied natural gas (LNG), but they are now realizing the need for diversification of supplies as a necessary condition to placate domestic energy desires. To this end, the region has developed programs to establish investment and development of local renewable energy platforms for wind and solar power. Dikes and pumps are likely to remain in the medium term, but the traditional energy infrastructure of the region is being replaced by solar power endeavors aimed at establishing mirrors on the sands of the Sahara. Demand from Europe The push towards solar power is increasingly demand driven. With energy prices on the rise and additional costs attached
