Algeria: why has phosphate become a national priority?

With reserves estimated at several billion tonnes, Algeria aims to become a key player in the export of phosphate, an essential mineral for the agricultural fertiliser industry. This project is part of the country's economic diversification strategy, aimed at reducing its dependence on hydrocarbons and boosting non-oil and non-gas exports.

Among the flagship initiatives, the development of the Bled El Hadba mine, located in the wilaya of Tebessa, is a major step forward. With an estimated reserve of 2.2 billion tonnes, it is one of the largest phosphate deposits in the world.

This project is part of an integrated mega-programme combining the extraction, processing and production of phosphate fertilisers. Carried out in partnership with Chinese companies, it aims to produce 10 million tonnes of phosphate a year and to create 6 million tonnes of fertiliser for export.

Thanks to this infrastructure, Algeria plans to gain a foothold in the African and Asian markets, where demand for fertilisers is growing steadily.

The Algerian government has committed an investment of 7 billion dollars to achieve this ambition. This sum will be used to build 21 processing units in the wilayas of Tebessa, Souk Ahras, Annaba and Skikda.

The economic impact of the project is considerable:

• 12,000 jobs created during the construction phase,
• 6,000 direct jobs and 24,000 indirect jobs once fully operational.

In addition to employment, this development is stimulating strategic sectors such as logistics, chemicals and the infrastructure industry, thereby strengthening the national economic ecosystem.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ranked this project among the national priorities, alongside the Gara Djebilet iron ore mine and the Oued Amizour zinc deposit. He insisted on strict adherence to deadlines, setting 2027 as the key year for these strategic infrastructures to come on stream.

Through this proactive policy, Algeria aims to :
✔ Reducing our dependence on hydrocarbons,
✔ Increase its foreign exchange earnings,
✔ To become a key player in the global fertiliser market.

If these objectives are achieved, the country could not only strengthen its economic influence, but also play a decisive role in the global agricultural boom, by supplying fertilisers that are essential to food security in many regions.