ALGIERS-The Minister of State, Minister of Energy, Mines and Renewable Energy, Mohamed Arkab, underscored on Tuesday, in Algiers, that the authorities have launched a “significant program” for the development of national mining capacities, providing a revision of the legal framework, an expansion of the mining base and the launch of major structuring projects, with the aim of increasing the added value of the mining sector.

The minister spoke during the ceremony celebrating the 59th anniversary of the nationalization of mines (6 May1966) and the 58th anniversary of the creation of the National Company for Mining Research and Exploitation Sonarem (11 May 1967), organized this year under the slogan “Valorization of mining resources: towards strengthening national achievements.”

This ceremony took place at the ministry headquarters in the presence of Government members, including the Minister of Interior, Local Authorities and National Planning, Brahim Merad, the Minister of Industry, Sifi Ghrieb, the Minister of Environment and Quality of Life, Nadjiba Djilali, and the Secretary of State to the Minister of Energy, in charge of Renewable Energy, Noureddine Yassaâ, as well as executives and workers of the sector and representatives of concerned public bodies and establishments.

In this respect, Arkab emphasized that the revision of the law governing mining activities aimed to adapt it to recent developments and strengthen the sector’s attractiveness for investors, while preserving national interests.

In this regard, the minister mentioned the expansion of the mining base through geological research programs, updating mining maps and launching major structural projects, notably the development of Gara Djebilet mine, the zinc and lead mine of Oued Amizour-Tala Hamza (Bejaia) and the phosphate mines of Bled El Hadba (Tebessa) and Oued Kebrit (Souk Ahras).

Several processing industries (marble, calcium carbonate, baryte, feldspar, kaolin, bentonite) are being developed, he said, recalling support for artisanal gold mining in the southern provinces.