Bouchouareb: “We’ve won battle of cement production… let’s make way for exports!”

Algeria will be self-sufficient in terms of cement by the end of this year by receiving several projects with an additional contribution of more than 4 million tons, said in Algiers the Minister of Industry and Mines Abdessalem Bouchouareb.

“So by the end of the year, I confirm that Algeria will be self-sufficient, and from 2017 it will consume its own cement,” he insisted. “With the existing cement plants, those in the final stages of delivery and those being initiated, I can say today that the battle is won in cement production,” said the minister.

 “We expect an increase in cement production of 4 million tons by the end of 2016 with the coming into production of two new cement plants, those of Ain El-Kebira, in Setif, and Chlef, which will start production next year, and this will substitute almost entirely imports of cement by the domestic product,” said Mr. Bouchouareb on the sidelines of the signing of two agreements between the industrial group of cements to Algeria (Gica) and a Chinese equipment for the construction of new cement production lines.

Indeed, the minister chaired the signing ceremony of two MoUs between Gica and Chinese equipment CBMI for the construction of two new cement production lines. 

Mr Bouchouareb stated that with the hike in production which will reach, according to forecasts, 23 million tonnes per year by 2019, not counting the private sector achievements, Algeria will be able not only to cover its cement requirements but also generate an excess production that will be export oriented, he explained.

Regarding the details of the agreements signed, the first is the achievement of a production line at the cement plant of Zahana, Mascara, for a total investment of 38 billion dinars. Under this contract, the Chinese partner is committed to achieving in this plant, with a nominal capacity of 1 million tons of cement per year, a new production line an additional 1.5 million tonnes. This line should, according to the representative of CBMI, to begin production in 2018.

The second contract signed between the Souara Company a subsidiary of Gica and CBMI, also provides for the construction of a new cement plant in Bechar (south-western Algeria) with a production capacity of one million tons per year.

In 2017, the country will even export the surplus, according to the industry and mines minister who said that the group Gica, working with a partner already present on the domestic market is charged with showcasing the Algerian product on foreign markets held by that partner.

To recall, Algeria consumes about 22 million tons of cement of which 18 million tonnes is produced locally and nearly 4 million tonnes stemming from imports.