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The production will be superior to 200,000 tons by the end of 2024, compared to that recorded in 2023, said the official, pointing out that thanks to this increase, the steel complex “will achieve all the objectives set for the first phase, pending the second phase which consists in expanding the plant, to reach a production of 4 million tons per year.”

He affirmed that the year 2024 is “promising,” as the company will strive to enter new international markets, notably the American market by exporting reinforcing bars, which requires adapting the product to the standards in force in this part of the world where AQS has already exported wire rods.

For him, “2023 was the most important year in the history of Bellara complex which managed to conquer the markets of 30 countries, by exporting about 700,000 tons of different steel products worth nearly USD400 million, notably after obtaining several international certifications that now allow it to comfortably and competitively enter new markets.”

It should be noted that the minister of Industry and Pharmaceutical Industry Ali Aoun, when inspecting AQS plant last weekend, urged the concerned officials to “speed up the execution of the second phase of the complex expansion, so that it I sin line with the public authorities’ future vision on steel industry, notably after the entry into exploitation of Gara Djebilet mine, in the province of Tindouf.”   

This second stage of expanding the complex, which requires an investment of around USD2.08 billion, will enable to produce more than 2.25 million tons of steel products to reach a total production capacity exceeding 4 million tons, and generate an additional turnover of USD1.75 billion, in addition to the creation of 1,500 jobs, said the source.

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