The realization of the major strategic partnership project between FERAAL (National Iron and Steel Company), a subsidiary of the Sonarem group, and Tosyali Algeria has reached a new milestone. The two parties recently held the constitutive general assembly of their joint venture company, dedicated to the valorization of iron ore from the Gara Djebilet deposit. The new entity created between the two companies plans an initial production of 4 million tons of concentrated iron ore per year, using the latest phosphorus treatment technologies.
In this context, the CEO of Sonarem, Reda Belhadj, received the vice-president of Tosyali Algeria, Alp Topcuoglu, in the presence of executives from both companies. The meeting reaffirmed the strength of the partnership and the shared desire to elevate bilateral cooperation to a higher strategic level in the mining sector and processing industry, Sonarem indicated in a statement.
Through this ambitious cooperation, Sonarem and Tosyali Algeria confirm their “commitment to build a common vision based on trust and a clear regional and international ambition, making Gara Djebilet a future strategic mining and industrial hub,” the same source emphasized.
The Gara Djebilet project is a “cornerstone” of the national strategy aimed at valorizing mineral resources, strengthening industrial sovereignty, and promoting integration and technology transfer. It is also expected to generate significant added value and sustainably support the national economy, the statement added. It is worth noting that the construction of this iron concentrate production unit is progressing at an accelerated pace, according to the Sonarem Group.
Located in Tindouf, the first treatment unit with a capacity of 4 million tons is set to start operations in the first quarter of 2026, while a second similar unit is planned in the first phase of the project (2024-2032), according to the national company, which refers to a treatment plant in Béchar in partnership with Tosyali and FERAAL. Production is initially planned at 4 million tons of concentrate, then increasing to 6 million tons of pellets, reaching a total capacity of 10 million tons. The unit will handle crushing and screening of the extracted ore as well as dry separation before storage and transportation. The techniques used achieve a recovery rate exceeding 85%.
The plant also aims to produce a high-grade iron concentrate (63%), with reduced phosphorus content, an essential step before producing semi-finished material destined for the Tosyali complex in Oran.
Inaugurated by the laying of the foundation stone by the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, at the end of 2023, this facility fits within the national strategy for valorizing mineral resources through the exploitation of the Gara Djebilet deposit, one of the largest in the world, with reserves estimated at nearly 3.5 billion tons of ore.