Algeria‘s Gara Djebilet Iron Ore Project to Begin Production in april

The massive Gara djebilet iron ore project in Algeria is set to officially begin production next April with the commissioning of it’s first ore processing and change unit. This announcement was made by Belkacem Soltani, the first manager of Sonarem, the public group responsible for the project.

Soltani stated that 2026 will also see the completion of two iron ore transformation units and the commencement of work on the largest infrastructure for the integrated phosphate project. These three projects represent a critically important boost to Algeria’s mining industry, providing new infrastructure for the transformation and treatment of both iron and phosphate ore.

The first iron ore treatment and transformation unit will be operational in April.A second unit,a joint venture between sonarem and Turk Tosyali,is expected to be operational in the second half of 2026. This second unit, to be located in the Béchar industrial zone and constructed by the Chinese group Sinosteel, will have a production capacity of 2 million tonnes of iron ore concentrate.

Prior to these developments, the southwest mining line is scheduled for completion by the end of this year, with construction progressing rapidly.

The operation of the southwest mining line and the two iron treatment units will usher in a new era for Algeria’s steel and metallurgical industry.Exploiting one of the world’s largest iron mines, this project will ensure a consistent and ample supply of materials for the country’s steel industry, reducing reliance on international markets and ultimately aiming to eliminate imports.

Integrated Phosphate Project Developments

Alongside the Gara Djebilet mine, work will soon begin on the largest infrastructure for processing and transforming phosphate ore. Feasibility studies for this project are already underway. The project will focus on operating the phosphate mine of Bled El Hadba,which holds recoverable reserves of nearly a billion tonnes,and will be jointly undertaken by Sonarem for extraction and Sonatrach for transforming the ore into fertilizers.

With progress on the processing units for the Gara Djebilet project continuing, Algeria is poised for significant growth in its mining and metallurgical sectors.