SONATRACH and AFC award EPCs for Integrated Phosphate Project Phase 1

Project overview

The Integrated Phosphate Project covers extraction and enrichment of the Bled El Hadba phosphate deposit, chemical transformation and fertilizer production at Oued El Keberit, and export via the Port of Annaba.

Contracts awarded

SONATRACH and the Algerian Fertilizers Company signed two EPC contracts: one with SAIPEM S.p.A. for fertilizer processing and production facilities at Bled El Hadba and Oued El Keberit, and one with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for port facilities at Annaba.

Scope and capacity

Planned infrastructure includes a raw phosphate extraction and beneficiation complex with 5.5 million t/year extraction capacity and 3.2 million t/year phosphate concentrate output; an industrial complex producing 2.4 million t/year of phosphate fertilizers and 570,000 t/year of nitrogen fertilizers (urea), with prior production of sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid and ammonia; plus port facilities, utilities and auxiliary infrastructure.

Economic and strategic impact

The project is presented as the first integrated mining-to-fertilizer initiative in Algeria, intended to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, develop an integrated industrial ecosystem, meet domestic agricultural fertilizer needs, generate export volumes through Annaba and strengthen national sovereignty over fertilizer supply.