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Speaking to APS, Sonarem Group CEO Belkacem Soltani highlighted that 2024 marked “a significant improvement over the previous year in the mining sector.”

He noted that the Group achieved 95% of the set objectives, following the instructions of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to fast-track strategic projects, including the Gara Djebilet mines in Tindouf, the Bled El Hadba phosphate project in Tébessa and the Oued Amizour zinc-lead in Béjaia.

These three integrated mega-projects, he said, are under constant monitoring by the authorities, ensuring resources are mobilized to meet completion deadlines. This is due to the expected impact of these investments on the national economy in terms of foreign currency revenues and production of essential materials for the industrial and agricultural sectors.

While chairing a Council of Ministers meeting last October, the President of the Republic emphasized the need to implement structuring mining projects “at full speed, until they become operational, respecting all prior decisions, given their weight and their substantial positive impact on the national economy.”

The Gara Djebilet mine project, which encompasses investment in a new railway line linking Béchar, Tindouf, and Gara Djebilet, has reached several major milestones in its development.

As part of the same approach to developing the Gara Djebilet mine, substantial efforts have also been made to advance the integrated phosphate project of Bled El Hadba (Tébessa) and Oued Kebrit (Souk Ahras).

Regarding the Oued Amizour zinc and lead project in Bejaia, it was reported that all necessary procedures have been completed, with the launch of the compensation operation as part of public utility transfer.

The mineral research program achieved “positive results” in 2024, discovering unexpected mineral substances in several provinces, with a view to setting up industrial hubs in these regions.

Mohamed Arkab, the Minister of State for Energy, Mining and Renewable Energy, reported that multiple research initiatives are currently underway as part of the national mineral exploration program, which spans 23 provinces.

He indicated that both completed and ongoing operations will enable the updating of the mining map and the establishment of hubs incorporating various related processing industries. 

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