The Algerian government is speeding up the restart of a large cement plant in Djelfa province, with a total investment of about 50 billion Algerian dinars ( $380 million). The plant, which was confiscated in a corruption case, is about to restart a joint venture with state-owned cement giant Algeria Industrial Cement Group (GICA) holding 51% and China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) holding 49%, with an estimated annual cement output of 3 million tons.
The cement plant was originally developed by the private group ETRHB Haddad. The project started around 2008 and was originally planned to be put into operation by the end of 2019. However, because Ali Haddad, the founder of the group, was heavily convicted of corruption in the anti-corruption storm in Algeria in 2019, the project was confiscated by the judiciary and stagnated for a long time. Now, under the personal attention of President Teben, this "recycling asset" has been listed as the focus of the national economic recovery strategy, aiming at revitalizing idle industrial resources, reducing cement imports and creating jobs. On June 21,
2025, Sifi Ghrieb, Minister of Industry of Algeria, visited the site of Djelfa Province, accompanied by the governor and Chinese representatives. The Minister received a detailed briefing on the technical and financial status of the project and the remaining obstacles, and held a coordination meeting with representatives of the Chinese partner CSCEC. The meeting decided to immediately appoint professional evaluation experts to conduct a comprehensive audit of existing assets, formulate a precise list of technical and financial needs, and draw a clear road map for completion to ensure that the project is put into operation as soon as possible.
It is worth noting that CSCEC was originally a technology and construction partner in the Haddad era. This direct continuation of cooperation not only retains the original technology accumulation, but also ensures the state's control over strategic assets through state-owned GICA holding. This "public-private mixed + Sino-foreign joint venture" model not only conforms to Algeria's current policy orientation of recycling assets, but also reflects the continuity of practical cooperation between China and Algeria under the framework of "the Belt and Road".
The factory covers an area of 100 hectares, with superior geographical location, close to the national road network and railway, and excellent logistics conditions. After full operation, it is expected to produce 3 million tons of cement annually, which will directly provide 350 jobs and indirectly drive more than 700 jobs, further consolidate Algeria's position as the largest cement producer in Africa, and significantly reduce its dependence on imported cement.
As of November 2025, the project has completed the stage of asset evaluation and road map formulation, and is entering the substantive preparation for resumption of work. It is expected that part of the production line will be put into operation in 2026. The restart of Jelfa Cement Plant is not only the transformation of Algeria's anti-corruption achievements into economic dividends, but also reflects the further deepening of cooperation between China and Algeria in the field of infrastructure construction.
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