Launch of the Oued Amizour Mine Project: A Historic Milestone for Algeria

Acting on the instructions of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the Prime Minister, Sifi Ghrieb, officially initiated the development works for the entrance of the zinc and lead mine located in Amizour and Tala Hamza during a working visit to the wilaya of Béjaïa.

Revitalizing Algeria’s Economy Beyond Hydrocarbons

In a statement to the press following the ceremony and the official commencement of excavation works at the mine’s entrance, the Prime Minister indicated that he had been tasked by President Tebboune to convey his congratulations to the various stakeholders involved in the project, as well as to the citizens of Amizour and Tala Hamza, for the efforts that made the launch of the project possible.

For Sifi Ghrieb, this moment represents “a milestone in the process of revitalizing the national economy beyond hydrocarbons.” He further described it as “a historic event for Algeria,” noting that the commitment made by the President—who had set the end of March as the deadline for the start of exploitation works—has now been fulfilled.

The Prime Minister stressed that the deposit, through the raw materials it will produce and the products destined for export, will enable the Algerian economy to position itself more competitively in international markets where competition among resource-rich countries remains particularly intense.

He also assured that additional projects would follow those of the Gara Djebilet iron deposit, the Amizour zinc project, and the phosphates of Tébessa, expressing his conviction that “Algeria is moving steadily toward freeing itself from dependence on oil revenues,” a strategic objective set by the President of the Republic.

A Major Government Delegation

Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb led a high-level ministerial delegation including Saïd Sayoud, Minister of the Interior, Local Authorities and Transport; Mohamed Arkab, Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines; Abdelkrim Bouzred; Abdelkader Djellaoui; Yahia Bachir; Taha Derbal; Mourad Adjal; and Karima Tafer.

The delegation also included the Director General of the National Police (DGSN), the chief executives of the Sonarem Group, ENOF, and the ORGM, alongside representatives of the joint Algerian-Australian company Bejaia Zinc and Lead (BZL), local and national elected officials, executive directors, and representatives of the local population.

A $471 Million Investment

The Chief Executive Officer of Sonarem, Réda Belhadj, presented the technical and financial dimensions of the project in a briefing titled “A Lever for Industrial Sovereignty and Sustainable Regional Development.”

He recalled that the deposit was discovered in 1992 by the ORGM. Geological studies later confirmed that it constitutes a world-class deposit containing approximately 54 million tonnes of ore, including 34 million tonnes directly exploitable, placing it among the largest deposits globally.

The total investment required amounts to $471 million. The mine is expected to produce 2 million tonnes of raw ore annually, processed by a treatment plant capable of extracting approximately 170,000 tonnes of zinc and 30,000 tonnes of lead each year.

The project is also expected to create 780 direct jobs and more than 4,000 indirect jobs. Extracted minerals will be further valorized through the installation of an on-site processing facility.

According to projections, the mine will generate annual revenues of 215 million dinars and achieve a return on investment within five years after the start of operations. From an environmental standpoint, Belhadj emphasized that the adopted technologies will ensure zero toxic discharge and zero dust emissions during transport.

Infrastructure and Energy Integration

The Prime Minister also attended a presentation by the Ministry of Public Works and Basic Infrastructure regarding the project to build a road linking the mine to the highway exit at kilometer 13 in Tala Hamza. The objective is to ensure smooth traffic flow, particularly for trucks transporting materials and goods, and to secure an efficient connection between the mining site and the national motorway network.

In the energy sector, the project includes connecting the mine to electricity and gas networks. The Ministry of Energy and Renewable Energies will ensure supply through the construction of a 60-kilovolt power line originating from the transformation station in El Qasr.

Mine Water and Surface Water Treatment

A representative of the Ministry of Hydraulics outlined accompanying measures designed to minimize environmental impact. The mine’s footprint will occupy no more than 2 percent of the region’s watershed area—approximately 2.3 km²—thus limiting its impact on agricultural activities dependent on groundwater resources in the Soummam Basin.

To establish an accurate hydrological database, the hydraulic services supported the project developer through three phases of studies.

Drainage water from the mine will initially be stored temporarily in one of the surface reservoirs and used during construction works. Once production begins, a treatment station will be installed downstream in the valley to process both mine and surface waters. This facility will remove solid materials and heavy metals before the water is reused or stored.

The Chief Executive Officer of Terramin Australia—which holds 49 percent of the joint venture BZL responsible for operating the mine, while ENOF and ORGM jointly hold 51 percent—also addressed the ceremony via video message.