The Secretary of State to the Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines, in charge of mines, Karima Bekir Tafer, is taking part in the fifth edition of the International Mining Conference 2026, held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where she is expected to deliver a presentation on Algeria’s progress in managing its mineral resources.
Algeria’s experience in the exploitation of mineral resources is extensive, in light of the many projects carried out in this field. The flagship project that Algeria is preparing to bring onstream at the end of the current month is the Gara Djebilet iron ore deposit, considered one of the largest in the world, with reserves estimated at around 3.5 billion tonnes.
On the occasion of her participation in this conference, which is being held from 13 to 15 January 2026 under the theme “Minerals… facing the challenges of a new era of development,” Ms Tafer is accompanied by the Head of the Steering Committee of the Algerian Geological Services Agency (ASGA), Karim Mokhtar, and several officials from the ministry, according to a statement from the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Mines issued this Wednesday.
This conference, organized under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, is presented as “a high-level platform bringing together business leaders, ministers in charge of mining affairs, decision-makers and experts from around the world.” On the agenda for this wide array of participants are discussions on the prospects for developing the mining sector, as well as strengthening its essential role in supporting economic transformation and achieving sustainable development.
Algeria’s participation in this international event is in line with its vision to promote the mining sector, strengthen its integration into global value chains, and intensify international cooperation and partnerships, in order to help enhance the value of national mineral resources and support the objectives of sustainable economic development. In this context, Ms Tafer took part in the ministerial round table chaired by the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, where views were exchanged on ways to strengthen international cooperation in the areas of exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, the development of value chains, and the promotion of responsible and sustainable investment in this strategic sector.
She also participated in the ministerial meeting of the member states of the Arab Industrial Development, Standardization and Mining Organization (AIDSMO), which was devoted to examining mechanisms for unifying Arab efforts, strengthening regional integration in the fields of industry and mining, and supporting joint initiatives aimed at ensuring sustainable economic development in Arab countries.
This year’s edition of the International Mining Conference is based on three strategic pillars: developing innovative financing models for mining infrastructure, strengthening the capacities of mineral-producing countries by establishing networks of centres of excellence in geology, innovation and sustainability, and promoting transparency throughout supply and manufacturing chains.
The conference enjoys broad participation, with representatives from more than 100 countries and around fifty international organizations, as well as financial institutions and major mining companies. A significant number of memoranda of understanding and strategic agreements are expected to be signed at this gathering, reflecting the growing importance of the mining sector in global economic and energy transformations.