Algerian Radio
Economic experts have welcomed the orientations provided by the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, during the Council of Ministers meeting he chaired on Sunday. These directives aim to transform mining activity into a vital sector and a primary driver for breaking dependency on hydrocarbons within the framework of a national economic plan.
In this regard, international economic development consultant Abderrahmane Hadef stated in a declaration to APS that the President’s instructions to accelerate the implementation of strategic projects and set precise deadlines for their exploitation "outline the contours of a new stage in the trajectory of the Algerian economy."
These orientations "reflect not only a strong political will but also the foundations of a profound transformation in the approach to economic governance, based on moving from emergency and situational management to a strategic governance system resting on an integrated, long-term vision," he explained.
Algeria "is currently undergoing a transformation in its economic governance; the objective is no longer limited to achieving situational balances but is moving toward a complete overhaul of the economic model to make it more diversified and sustainable. This is through a new approach based on the valorization of national resources and directing investments toward high-value-added productive sectors, while enshrining a culture of results and respect for deadlines as essential criteria for implementation," he added.
Regarding the integrated phosphate project at Bled El Hadba, Hadef stated that the President’s orientations—stipulating that phosphate exports must begin by March 2027—"reflect an integrated vision to accelerate the implementation of this strategic facility and place it at the heart of the ongoing economic transformation." He added that "it is not merely about starting exports, but about establishing an integrated industrial system capable of mastering the various stages of the value chain, from extraction to transformation and marketing."
The acceleration of this project also carries a "strong message" that Algeria "is determined to join the club of influential countries in the global fertilizer market, which is valued at over $250 billion. However," he added, "the real challenge lies in developing an integrated processing industry capable of significantly increasing added value and making this resource a true industrial lever, thus making March 2027 the starting point for an integrated mining industrial system."
According to Mr. Hadef, the integrated phosphate project in the east of the country complements the western Béchar-Gara Djebilet mining line, forming "a national logistics network capable of supporting various major mining projects and opening new perspectives toward the African interior." He noted that African markets constitute "a strategic opportunity for Algeria to consolidate its role as a commercial gateway between Europe and Africa."
For his part, economic expert Houari Tigharsi praised the President’s orientations, emphasizing that the integrated phosphate project relies on "a global industrial vision, linking the mining exploitation of Bled El Hadba to transformation chains, notably the production of ammonia and urea, in addition to developing logistical infrastructure via the Port of Annaba and its associated facilities."
This strategic project is part of "a broader dynamic to relaunch the mining sector as a lever for economic diversification," he added, hailing the will shown by public authorities, led by the President of the Republic, to make the mining sector "a pillar of an economic model based on production and job creation, particularly by linking it to transformation industries and orienting it toward export."
Tigharsi believes that setting March 2027 as the deadline for the start of phosphate exports constitutes "a turning point that goes beyond a simple technical objective to reflect a strategic orientation aimed at repositioning Algeria in the global market." He stressed that the new approach aims to "break away from conventional patterns in this field and move from exporting raw materials to producing high-value-added fertilizers, thereby strengthening the Algerian presence in a market closely linked to global food security."
During the Council of Ministers meeting on Sunday, the President of the Republic ordered the launch of phosphate exports from the Bled El Hadba mine by March 2027 "at the latest," particularly following the completion of the mineral quay as part of the Port of Annaba expansion.
The President reminded the Council of Algeria's economic plan for the current and future stages, which aims to "transform the mining sector into a vital wealth-generating sector and an essential engine for breaking dependency on hydrocarbons."
In the same context, the President of the Republic ordered the immediate launch of construction for raw material processing units at the Bled El Hadba phosphate mine, to be carried out in parallel with the mine's exploitation, along with the immediate establishment of urea and ammonia stocks.
