Ali Aoun: Study of an aluminum manufacturing project in Algeria in partnership with an African bauxite producer – Algerian Dialogue

Today, Thursday in Algiers, the Minister of Industry and Pharmaceutical Production, Ali Aoun, revealed that a study had been conducted on a project to manufacture aluminum locally through a partnership between the holding company “Emetal” and an African producer of bauxite, which is the raw material used in production.
In a public session dedicated to asking oral questions in the National Assembly, chaired by Ali Talbi, Vice President of the Assembly, and in the presence of a number of government members, Mr. Aoun stated that “to develop transformational projects for raw materials locally, there will be a partnership between Emital, Khawas, and a bauxite producer in Africa to establish an industry in Aluminum field.
In this context, he stressed that the partnership with a bauxite producer, which does not exist in Algeria, would allow the establishment of an industry that would meet the aluminum needs of the national market and reduce the import bill for this material.
However, the minister added, the aluminum industry based on bauxite is considered a “polluting” industry, which requires taking all necessary precautions to preserve the environment.
Regarding the iron and steel industry, in general, in Algeria, Mr. Aoun considered that it had achieved “a major qualitative leap, after it was able to achieve nearly a billion dollars in exports.”
In this regard, he pointed out that the state has adopted a strategy to promote large industrial sectors, such as the iron and steel industry, by exploiting all natural, industrial and human capabilities, with the aim of eliminating the dependency of this division on imported inputs, especially after the Gara Jbeilat project entered the production stage, which will enrich Algerian industry about importing iron ore in the future.
In this context, he indicated that his sector works to accompany all economic operators active in the field of steel and mining industries, “which suffer from difficulties and obstacles, in order to protect the national product from random imports.”

Launching the automotive sheet metal industry in Oran before the end of 2024

He also stressed that the public authorities are working, within the framework of their adherence to their economic and social gains, to accompany the “Cedar El Haggar” complex, which is considered a pioneer in the steel industry, to enable it to regain its position within the national industrial fabric, and to contribute to national economic development, by embodying a development plan considered Today it is “necessary” to keep pace with technological and energy transformations.
Mr. Aoun explained that the primary goal of the complex’s development plan is to increase production capabilities, as well as diversify into iron and steel products with high added value and high quality.
He also pointed out that the foundation stone was recently laid for the exploitation of the zinc and lead mine project in Tala Hamza in the Amizur Valley (Bejaia Province), which contains an exploitable reserve estimated at 34 million tons for a period of 20 years, which will contribute to the development of this division.
He stated that Algeria has transformed in the last three years from an importing country to an exporting country in the field of iron and steel industry, but “there are still some needs for some types, such as sheet metal used in the automobile industry.”
In this regard, the Minister announced that “the Oran complex will start producing this material before the end of the current year.”
Regarding another question about the fate of the activities area in the state of Al-Mania, the minister explained that this area is private property of the municipality, and therefore the process of preparing it falls on the responsibility of the local authorities, especially the interests of the municipality of Al-Mania, reassuring at the same time that his ministerial department is seeking to contribute to resolving the concern at hand.