The Algerian Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, authorized, on July 30, the start of exploitation of the iron mine in Ghar Djebilet, Tindouf.
The Minister began his working and inspection visit in Tindouf, where he inaugurated the Ghar Djebilet iron mine.
In a speech, he stressed that, in line with the government’s program and cabinet decisions, the ministry seeks to develop the mining sector and launch mining activities to optimize this wealth exploitation at the country level.
The minister indicated that the iron mine in Ghar Djebilet will allow the production of 2 to 3 million tonnes of iron ore in the first phase (2022-2025), then 40 to 50 million tonnes annually starting from 2026.
The Minister stated that the main objectives of the Mining Sector Development Program revolve around creating the appropriate conditions for investment development through reforming the legislative and regulatory framework related to mining activities to ensure the investment attractiveness in the mining sector, and providing high-quality basic information and data associated to geological mapping. As well as mineral inventory to investors, while intensifying programs mining research in to discover new mineral resources, increase productivity and diversify products. Especially those with high added value, as well as develop large mining industrial projects aimed at valuing local mineral resources, such as phosphate conversion projects (Tebessa), zinc and lead exploitation in the Oued Amizour (Bejaia), and developing the iron deposit in Ghar Djebilet (Tindouf) to supply the national iron and steel industry.
The minister explained that the Ghar Djebilet mine is the first step to materializing this massive project, noting that they were able to reach this stage after several years of work and studies in the world’s largest laboratories, which enabled the latter to identify marketable products at the national and international levels. Including iron concentrate, iron pellets, and semi-finished products such as billet.
