Lafarge negotiating new cement plant with the Algerian government New production capacities can help Algeria achieve self-sufficiency

Algerian and international Experts confirmed at the 8th International Symposium on concrete technology, the need for Algeria to utilise new technologies for concrete.

This would allow the country achieve high efficiency in completing projects of public works and housing and enable high rates energy savings and gas emissions reduction. The techniques include the use of natural resources used in manufacturing of cement and concrete. In addition, the new way of working would also enable Algeria protect the environment as well as respect for building standards that are compatible with seismic risks, a reality in northern Algeria.

For his part, the Algerian expert and Technical Director of Lafarge Algeria Zinedine Abib, told the symposium that the demand in the Algeria for concrete is very large and urgent ‘’We need to double the current production as soon as possible without loosing focus on quality and technical standards for resistance to earthquakes, natural disasters and respect for environmental standards which the company is currently working on’’ said Zineddine Abib

The experts estimated the annual needs in Algeria of cement in all its varieties to about 20 million tons per year. Meanwhile the national production does not exceed 16 million tons split in 11 million tons produced by the public sector and 5 million tons produced by Lafarge Algeria,

Lafarge is currently negotiating with the Algerian government to build a cement plant to raise its production capacity to 10 million tons per year. The future production if achieved through the new plant will enable Algeria exporting half of it abroad. Experts also told Echorouk during the same seminar that estimates say Algeria will need more cement plants each with a capacity of 4 million tons. The whole investment would reach  $ 1 billion in terms of building and engineering capacities.