Skikda – During a working visit to Skikda on Monday, Karima Tafer, Secretary of State to the Minister of Energy, Mines, and Renewable Energies in charge of mining, announced that a new national strategy will be launched to revive Algeria’s marble industry.
Speaking to the press, Tafer emphasized that the plan, to be developed in coordination with the National Mining Industry Group (SONAREM), will focus on training, marketing, and business management, with the objective of restoring Algerian marble to its historic prominence in the global market.
Toward a Competitive, Export-Ready Marble Sector
The Secretary of State acknowledged existing challenges facing the National Marble Company, noting that these will be addressed through the upcoming strategy. She reaffirmed that the mining sector will support the company, with an emphasis on skills development and involving private operators to boost production capacity.
This initiative is in line with directives from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who has called for the development of the marble sector as part of a broader effort to reduce import dependency, valorize domestic resources, and ultimately target international markets.
Algeria–Italy Partnership to Boost Technical Expertise
Tafer revealed that in May 2025, a partnership agreement will be signed between SONAREM and the Italian Marble Federation. The deal includes the creation of a specialized training school for marble industry workers, with Italian experts offering instruction in extraction, processing, and transformation techniques. The project will also involve Algeria’s vocational training sector and local specialists.
New Mining Law to Attract Private and Foreign Investment
Highlighting the strategic importance of the mining sector in Algeria’s economic future, Tafer stated that a new, more transparent mining law is being finalized. The legislation will include provisions to facilitate private and foreign investment, thus opening the door to greater exploitation of Algeria’s vast geological wealth.
Tafer also confirmed that exploration and geological research efforts have never ceased, with 26 new mining research projects recently launched. These projects aim to map and quantify Algeria’s mineral resources, which are considered to hold tremendous untapped potential.
Field Visit Highlights Sector Potential
Accompanied by SONAREM CEO Belkacem Soltani, the Secretary of State began her visit with a briefing on the local energy and mining sectors. She also inspected the marble quarry in Filfila, and visited a marble processing plant near the Goat Island Road in the provincial capital, where she underlined the importance of revitalizing local production units as a backbone for industrial diversification.
With this renewed focus, Algeria aims to position itself as a regional hub for marble production and export, leveraging its natural reserves, strategic partnerships, and growing industrial capabilities.
Written by: Nor Eleslam – DZWatch.dz
