Algeria’s mining group Sonarem and the Chadian company Sonemic have signed a protocol of agreement designed to structure and deepen their cooperation in the mining sector. This partnership, centered on skills transfer, the development of strategic projects, and the sustainable exploitation of mineral resources, marks a move toward higher‑value collaboration and a broader push for intensified African‑African cooperation.
The agreement lays out a clear framework for the terms and mechanisms of collaboration, aiming to improve coordination between the two companies and ensure the effective implementation of their shared objectives. It is intended to move beyond ad‑h‑oc contacts and anchor the relationship in stable, long‑term cooperation.
Key pillars of the protocol include the development of geological research and mineral exploration, the exchange of technologies and expertise in sustainable mining, the strengthening of human‑resource capabilities, and the launch of joint structuring projects. Both sides emphasize that this will help build a durable, mutually beneficial partnership grounded in complementarity and know‑how sharing.
The signing ceremony took place at Sonarem’s headquarters under the chairmanship of the group’s CEO, Reda Belhadj, and was attended by Sonemic’s Deputy Director‑General, Nasser Taha Abdeljalil, along with senior managers from both entities. The meeting served to align both companies around a common vision and to define the operational roadmap for the partnership.
On the sidelines of these discussions, the two parties also examined complementary agreements, including a project on skills transfer to support the development of Chad’s mining sector and another targeting the training of trainers, aimed at improving the qualifications of managers and workers in the field. These initiatives are intended to translate technical cooperation into tangible capacity‑building outcomes.
Sonarem and Sonemic also reaffirmed their commitment to good governance, transparency, and adherence to environmental standards throughout all stages of mining activity, in line with sustainable‑development requirements. This commitment underpins their pledge to manage resources responsibly while pursuing economic returns.
Through this agreement, Sonarem and Sonemic express their ambition to build an effective partnership that contributes to the valorization of mineral resources, supports economic diversification, and enhances the attractiveness of the mining sector, all within the broader context of strengthened South–South and intra‑African cooperation.
This development comes in parallel with the visit to Algeria of a delegation from Chad’s Ministry of Petroleum, Mines and Geology, received this Friday by Miloud Medjelled, Secretary‑General of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, at the ministry’s headquarters in Algiers. The delegation is taking part in the fourth edition of the international fair on iron, steel and mining materials, held from March 30 to April 1 at the maritime‑pine Exhibition Palace in Algiers.
Talks held in the presence of ministry officials reviewed the state and prospects of bilateral relations between Algeria and Chad, described as fraternal and historic. The discussions highlighted the signing in December 2025 of a protocol of discussions in the fields of hydrocarbons and mining, considered a key step toward institutionalizing cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to revisit the visit made to Chad in January 2026 by Minister of State and Minister of Energy and Mines Mohamed Arkab, who attended the international mining, quarrying and hydrocarbons exhibition “SEMICA TCHAD 2026” as representative of the President of the Republic.