Minister Arkab Launches Souk Ahras Phosphate Transformation Complex

Minister of Hydrocarbons, Mohamed Arkab, officially inaugurated the construction of a chemical phosphate transformation complex in Oued Kebrit, Souk Ahras province, on Thursday. The ceremony, marking a pivotal phase in Algeria's integrated phosphate project, was attended by the Minister of Mines and Mining Industries, Mourad Hanifi, Minister of Public Works and Basic Infrastructure, Abdelkader Djellaoui, Souk Ahras Wali Abdelkrim Zinai, and Sonatrach CEO Noureddine Daoudi, alongside other sector representatives.

This strategic complex is designed to be the core industrial link in the phosphate value chain, converting enriched phosphate from the Bled El Hadba mining pole into high-value industrial products. It will host industrial units for producing various phosphate fertilizers, including DAP, MAP, and NPK, as well as nitrogen fertilizers such as Urea. Additionally, the complex will manufacture crucial intermediate chemicals like sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and ammonia.

During its initial phase, the facility is projected to achieve an annual production capacity of approximately 2.4 million tons of phosphate fertilizers and 570,000 tons of nitrogen fertilizers. The project’s preparatory and construction works are being undertaken by the Italian company SAIPEM, employing the "EPC Fast Track" method to accelerate completion. This endeavor also involves significant participation from several Sonatrach subsidiaries, including SARPI, GCB, and GTP, highlighting a collaborative national and international effort.

The complex is anticipated to deliver substantial benefits, including the local valorization of national mining resources and meeting the country's agricultural demand for fertilizers. Its strategic importance extends to enhancing food security, boosting the added value of national resources, and opening new avenues for exports beyond the hydrocarbon sector. Furthermore, the project is expected to create direct and indirect employment opportunities, stimulate local development, facilitate technology transfer, cultivate Algerian expertise, and strengthen the national industrial landscape. Minister Arkab stressed the importance of continued inter-sectoral coordination and vigilant on-site monitoring to ensure timely and accelerated completion.