Algerian Radio
The Secretary of State to the Minister of Mines and Mining Industry, in charge of Mines, Karima Bakir Tafer, inaugurated on Monday in Beni Mansour, in the wilaya of Bejaia, a celestite production and processing unit.
In her speech, Mrs. Bakir Tafer indicated that this "important industrial mining investment," carried out by the "Zergoun Brothers" group, reflects "the extreme interest shown by the state in the mining sector, which is considered one of the national strategic pillars for diversifying the economy away from hydrocarbons."
She added that this project falls within the framework of implementing the directives of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, aimed at giving a new impetus to the national economy and supporting local production. This is achieved by supporting the private sector as a strategic and effective partner, on equal footing with the public sector, to revitalize mining activity, promote non-hydrocarbon economic diversification, and gradually reduce reliance on imports.
The Secretary of State also highlighted the importance of celestite, a vital strategic mineral used in several high-tech industries, notably electronics, glass, and chemical industries.
Referring to the economic and social impact of the project, she stated that it will contribute to the region's development by creating 50 direct jobs, in addition to numerous indirect jobs, while boosting the dynamics of local development.
The unit aims for an annual production of 50,000 tonnes of celestite, intended to cover the needs of the national market and open up export prospects to international markets, thereby representing a step forward toward self-sufficiency in strategic minerals, according to the official.
Mrs. Bakir Tafer also reaffirmed the state's commitment to supporting and encouraging investors through the incentives provided by the new Mining Code and the investment law, citing the "Zergoun Brothers" group as an example, whose project "will contribute to the processing of natural resources in compliance with modern environmental and technological standards."
