Algerian Radio
The Chief of Staff to the Secretary of State for Mines, attached to the Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines, Djamel Eddine Choutri, revealed this Monday that the exploitation of the integrated phosphate mine in Bled El Hadba will begin at the end of next April, with the allocation of an export berth at the port of Bejaia.
While hosted on Channel 1's "Forum El Oula" radio program, Djamel Eddine Choutri confirmed the existence of coordination between various sectors to complete the zinc and lead project. At the level of the Tala Hamza and Oued Amizour project, the energy sector is taking charge of connecting the electricity grid, while the public works sector is handling connecting the road to the highway access. This is in addition to building an overpass linking the mine to the living base, alongside the ongoing works at the port of Bejaia, which has seen the preparation of a dedicated berth for future exports.
In the same context, Choutri highlighted the importance of revitalizing the mining industry and the role of major projects in achieving economic transformation and developing manufacturing industries, as the mining sector has become one of the fundamental pillars for diversifying the national economy beyond hydrocarbons.
To implement this strategy—the same speaker added—our country has embarked on the realization of major mining projects that were waiting to be revitalized, such as the Gara Djebilet project, which has entered the phase of actual exploitation. This was followed by the launch of the second project, which consists of exploiting the zinc and lead mine in Tala Hamza and Oued Amizour. This project is no less important than Gara Djebilet, as it represents a significant reserve of global value, ranking among the largest reserves in the world.
Furthermore, zinc is considered a relatively rare metal internationally, which increases the importance of exploiting this mine. It will contribute to meeting the demand for this material, which is currently entirely imported, with the possibility of covering the national market and exporting the surplus.
Enhancing Zinc and Lead Projects in Bejaia
For his part, the Director General of the "Sonarem" group, Reda Belhadj, highlighted the strategic importance of the zinc and lead mine in Bejaia in meeting the domestic demand for raw materials. He explained that mining resources have become the backbone of modern economic transformation, where the conversation is no longer limited solely to extraction and marketing, but now encompasses extraction and valorization.
Reda Belhadj affirmed that the importance of mining resources lies in achieving economic sovereignty, as it makes no sense to move towards developing industrial sectors such as iron and steel without possessing the raw materials that meet their needs. He pointed out that this will also allow for the development of the manufacturing industry by providing raw materials and reducing the import bill, which is considered a positive indicator.
The same speaker added that creating a value chain starts from extraction down to final products, which is of paramount importance, as it contributes to creating economic dynamism and providing jobs, making the economy more active, as well as maximizing the exploitation of mining products.
He also noted that this will enable the attraction of foreign investments, which in turn will bring modern technologies and capital, alongside concluding strategic partnerships with various countries and creating industrial hubs. Furthermore, it supports the shift towards green technology, considering that rare metals have today become the basis of the energy transition.
