Bouchouareb “Bechar and Tindouf To Become Global Mining Hubs”

The Minister of Industry and Mines, Abdeslem Bouchouareb, said that the government, as part of its new strategy of development of the national industry and the diversification of the national economy, aims to make the south-western wilayas or provinces of Tindouf and Béchar major mining hubs in the world, given the enormous mining potential they possess.

Indeed, for the Minister, one of his priorities is to revitalize the very strategic mining sector , but alas long neglected, and make it another growth driver.

And hence, many partnership agreements will be signed to make this sector a further important source of non-oil external revenues for the country, with on focus the Bechar cement plant with a production capacity of one million tons of cement for a public investment 34 billion dinars, which extends over an area of over 100 hectares.

This new industrial entity within the company Saoura Cement (a subsidiary of Gica), which will be commissioned in late 2018, will allow for the shoring up  of national production to bring it to 23 million tons per year, by creating 500 direct jobs and another 800 indirect jobs.

The launch of the construction works of the first cement plant in the south comes into line with the approach for a better exploitation of mineral wealth of the country and a response to the growing cement market needs.

Mr Bouchouareb stressed, during his working visit of inspection in the capital of the Saoura region that the state will invest in promising and profitable projects for the national economy that will be spurring vectors for the local and cross-border economy.

Another outstanding project, is an Algerian-Chinese joint venture to operate the Guettara manganese deposit in the province of Béchar, which will be treated in an adjoining metallurgical plant in the vicinity of the mine and part of this investment at a cost of $ 54 million dollars.

The other project, equally important, is meant for the development and enhancement of the barite deposit (intended for oil drilling) of Draïssa locality in addition to the setting up of a new factory in Abadla area.

All these mega projects, which will contribute to the revitalization of the local economy and a breakthrough to African markets, will generate more than 3,000 jobs for locals, Mr Bouchouareb explained.