ECONOMY

Exploitation of Bled El-Hedba's Phosphate to start in 2022

TEBESSA- The real exploitation of phosphate of Bled El-Hedba (Tebessa) as part of an integrated project of extraction, conversion and exportation of phosphate to global markets will start in 2022, Minister of Energy and Mining Mohamed Arkab announced Monday, in Tebessa.

After receiving exhaustive explanations on this project, at the headquarters of phosphate mining company (Somiphos), the minister, who was accompanied by Minister of National Solidarity, Family and Women's Affairs Kaouter Krokou, said that the project is being finalized, underlining that the final file will be soon submitted to the State's holding council for approval and effective commissioning before end of 2022.

In this regard, Arkab welcomed Somiphos' achievements in 2021 as it exported raw phosphate to several countries despite the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, calling to intensify efforts, to take advantage of the experiences of the companies that are leaders in this field in order to increase exports.

The minister insisted also on the necessity of using new mechanisms and techniques in terms of enriching iron ore extracted from Boukhadra and Ouenza mines (north of Tebessa), developing the mining potentials to supply the steel complex of El Hadjar (Annaba) and targeting new markets, especially as these mine reserves are important and that their exploitation requires more efforts.