Belkacem Settani, CEO of the mining industrial group SONAREM, revealed that the first primary processing unit for iron ore extracted from the Gara Djebilet mine in Tindouf is expected to become operational by the end of April 2026.

The unit’s production capacity is estimated at 4 million tons annually. According to Settani in an interview with the Algerian Press Agency, the new plant will carry out crushing, grinding, screening, and dry separation of the raw material before storage and transport, with the adopted technologies ensuring a recovery rate exceeding 85%.

For these advantages… Gara Djebilet is Algeria’s project of the century!

Settani pointed out that the project, whose foundation stone was laid by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune at the end of 2023, is part of the valorization of national mining resources and the exploitation of one of the world’s largest iron ore mines with reserves estimated at 3.5 billion tons.

He also stated that work is progressing at an “accelerated” pace to complete the first iron concentrate production unit with a capacity of 4 million tons annually, in partnership between the companies “Feral” and “Tosyali”, with plans to expand later to produce 10 million tons annually of iron concentrate and pellets by 2032.

Additionally, the official added that companies from the United States, India, and China have shown great interest in cooperation in the mining sector, especially in the Gara Djebilet project, where joint working groups have been formed to develop phosphorus reduction technologies and accelerate technical trials locally.