The Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, affirmed on Monday from Tebessa, that the actual exploitation of Bled El Hadba phosphate (south of Tebessa) will start during the current year “2022” as part of the integrated project to extract it, transform it and export it to global markets.
After receiving full explanations about the project at the headquarters of the Phosphate Mining Company “Semiphos” (formerly Farvos) in the province’s capital, the minister, who was accompanied by the Minister of National Solidarity, Family and Women’s Issues Kaoutar Krikou, indicated that work is currently underway for the completion of this project before putting the final file of the project “soon” on the table of the State Shareholding Council for approval and effective entry into operation before the end of the current year.
After praising the achievements of the Phosphate Mines Company “Semiphos” during the year 2021 in the field of exporting crude phosphate to several countries, despite the repercussions of the Corona pandemic, the Minister gave instructions to redouble efforts, benefit from experiences and coordinate with leading companies in this field to raise the export bill.
He also recommended the necessity of involving new mechanisms and technologies in the field of enriching iron ore extracted from the Boukhadra and Ouenza mines (north of Tebessa) and developping mining capacities to supply the El Hadjar complex (Annaba) and targeting new markets, especially that the mines’ stock is “important” and requires redoubling efforts to exploit and benefit from it.
At the conclusion of the visit, the Ministers of Energy and Mines and National Solidarity, Family and Women’s Issues supervised the commissioning of a project to supply 236 homes in the residential community “Machta Al-Maza” in the municipality of Marsat with natural gas, and a second project to connect 168 homes in the residential community “Ain Al-Chania pump” in the municipality of Aouinat with the natural gas network.
