By Dr. Hana Saada
Mourad Hanifi formally assumed office as Minister of Mines and Mining Industries on Saturday, following a ministerial reshuffle initiated by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. The transition, conducted at the headquarters of the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, signals a renewed institutional focus on unlocking the country’s vast mineral wealth as a cornerstone of post-hydrocarbon economic diversification.
The handover ceremony, presided over by Minister of State for Hydrocarbons Mohamed Arkab, brought together key figures from Algeria’s energy and mining architecture, including senior executives from Sonatrach, the National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources (ALNAFT), and the Hydrocarbon Regulatory Authority.
In his inaugural remarks, Hanifi framed his appointment as both an honor and a “profound national duty,” pledging to translate Algeria’s geological potential into tangible economic outcomes. His mandate, as articulated, aligns closely with the President’s forward-looking vision: repositioning the mining sector as a central lever for revenue diversification, industrial development, and long-term economic sovereignty.
Algeria’s subsoil is rich with strategic resources—phosphate, iron, zinc, lead, gold, and copper among them—yet, as Hanifi acknowledged, the challenge lies not in resource abundance but in effective valorization. “National mining potential can only become economic reality through concrete industrial projects,” he emphasized, outlining a policy direction grounded in execution rather than abstraction.
At the heart of this strategy is an ambitious reform agenda aimed at modernizing the mining framework. Hanifi signaled the imminent rollout of regulatory reforms designed to enhance transparency, streamline administrative procedures, and establish a more investor-friendly legal environment. The objective is clear: accelerate the conversion of natural resources into productive assets capable of generating employment and industrial value chains.
Priority will be given to fast-tracking flagship projects with transformative potential. These include the Gara Djebilet iron ore project, the zinc and lead developments at Tala Hamza-Amizour, and the integrated phosphate project in eastern Algeria. Together, these initiatives are expected to feed into downstream industries—particularly steel, chemicals, and construction materials—thereby reinforcing domestic industrial capacity.
Parallel to project acceleration, the minister outlined a comprehensive expansion of exploration activities across the national territory. Leveraging advanced technologies and domestic expertise, this initiative seeks to identify new reserves and broaden the country’s extractive portfolio. Equally central to the roadmap is the enforcement of local content policies, ensuring that mining investments translate into meaningful domestic economic participation.
Environmental stewardship also featured prominently in Hanifi’s address. He stressed the necessity of adhering to rigorous environmental standards, rehabilitating mining sites, and adopting sustainable extraction practices—an acknowledgment of the growing global imperative to balance resource exploitation with ecological responsibility.
For his part, Minister of State Mohamed Arkab reaffirmed the continuity of Algeria’s reform trajectory, emphasizing that hydrocarbons will remain a foundational pillar of the national economy even as diversification efforts intensify. He highlighted ongoing initiatives to enhance sectoral attractiveness, including the forthcoming “Algeria Bid Round 2026,” a new cycle of exploration and investment tenders aimed at attracting international partners and reinforcing Algeria’s position as a reliable energy hub.
The reshuffle, Arkab suggested, is less a rupture than a consolidation—an effort to align institutional leadership with evolving economic priorities and global market dynamics.
Hanifi’s appointment brings to the fore a technocrat with over 25 years of experience in mining governance, legislation, and project management. A graduate in mining geology from the University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, he has held key positions, including head of the National Mining Activities Agency (ANAM) and Director General of Mines. His involvement in drafting Algeria’s new mining law (25-12) and his contributions to major projects such as Gara Djebilet and the integrated phosphate initiative position him as both architect and executor of the sector’s next phase.
— 𝐄𝐍𝐃 —
Dzair Tube Media Group | Record and Standing
Dzair Tube is a leading Algerian digital journalism platform, delivering high-quality content in Arabic, French, and English. With a daily readership exceeding 500,000, it has established itself among the country’s most influential media organizations.
Recognized for editorial excellence and integrity, Dzair Tube was awarded the President of the Republic’s Prize for Professional Journalist in the Electronic Press category on 22 October 2022. The platform operates from state-of-the-art studios, producing diverse programming across news, sports, culture, entertainment, and religion.
Dzair Tube maintains a robust digital presence, with over 600,000 YouTube subscribers, six million followers across Facebook pages, and more than 70,000 Instagram followers. Its sports daily, Dzair Sport, enjoys over 50,000 daily downloads via its official website, cementing its leadership in multimedia journalism.
Further recognized with the Media Leadership Award by former Minister of Communication Mohamed Laâgab and celebrated at the Hilals of Television awards, Dzair Tube continues to set benchmarks in innovation, influence, and public engagement, serving as a key forum for civic discourse, critical analysis, and public affairs.
Official website: www.dzair-tube.dz | English: www.dzair-tube.dz/en
