ALGERIA: Lafarge Group - Entry Into Production of Biskra Cement Works in 2016

The cement works, created in joint-venture in 2014 between Lafarge Algeria group and the private Algerian company "Souakri" in Biskra, will enter into production in 2016 said, Tuesday, an official of this group.

During the presentation of this group to journalists at the Oggaz plant in Mascara, the director of Public Affairs and Communications at "Lafarge Algeria", Serge Dubois, said that this cement works will produce 2.7 million tons per year, bringing the group's overall production to more than 11 million tons per year.

Currently, the overall production of group Lafarge Algeria made up of two cement works in M'sila and Oggaz, is 8.7 million tons per year.

Lafarge Algeria holds, in partnership with the public cement industry group of Algeria (GICA), the Meftah cement works (1 million tons/year).

With an investment cost of DZD30 billion, the project of Biskra is held by 51% by the company "Souakri," and 49% by the French cement works under the rule governing the investments between Algerian and foreign companies.

"We plan to invest in 2016 for all our activities: cement, plasters, ready to use concrete, aggregate and our supermarket chain, Batistore," said Dubois.

ALGERIE: Introduction à la Bourse en 2016 de la cimenterie d'Ain El Kebira

La cimenterie d'Ain El Kebira (wilaya de Sétif), filiale du Groupe industriel des ciments d'Algérie (GICA) sera introduite en Bourse en 2016 à hauteur de 35% de son capital, a annoncé jeudi son PDG, Laid Khaber.

L'opération d'entrée en Bourse de cette cimenterie publique qui produit 1,3 million de tonnes par an est actuellement en phase de préparation de la notice de présentation de l’unité qui devrait être déposée avant fin 2015 auprès de la Commission de surveillance des opérations de Bourse (COSOB), a indiqué M. Khaber à des journalistes en marge d’une visite à cette unité.

"L'entrée en Bourse de la cimenterie d’Ain El Kebira est prévue en 2016", a-t-il précisé, ajoutant que cette opération porte sur l’ouverture de 35% de son capital aux investisseurs institutionnels (banques, établissements financiers et compagnies d’assurance), mais aussi des personnes morales et physiques.

M. Khaber a, en outre, tenu à souligner que l’ouverture d’une partie du capital de la Société des ciments d’Ain El Kebira (SCAEK) au marché financier ne signifie pas qu’elle sera privatisée.

"Il ne s’agit pas d’une privatisation mais plutôt d’une contribution de la société à la dynamisation du marché boursier", a-t-il affirmé.

Le Conseil des participations de l'Etat (CPE) avait donné en 2013 le feu vert à huit entreprises publiques pour l'ouverture ou l'augmentation de leurs capitaux, rappelle-t-on.

Il s'agit de la banque publique CPA (Crédit populaire d’Algérie), de trois cimenteries publiques relevant du groupe GICA, de la compagnie d'assurance CAAR, de COSIDER Carrières, filiale du groupe public du BTPH COSIDER, de l'entreprise Hydro-aménagement et de l'opérateur historique de téléphonie mobile Mobilis.

ALGERIA: Moving Towards Self-Sufficiency in Cement, Steel Products, Says Minister of Industry and Mines

Algeria is moving towards "self-sufficiency in cement and steel products thanks to the new facilities to be operational in the short term," Minister of Industry and Mines, Abdeslam Bouchouareb said Sunday in Biskra.

Speaking during a meeting with local economic operators, at the headquarters of Biskra prefecture where he was on a working visit, the minister said that Algeria, which imports about 3 million tons of cement per year, "will manage to cover its needs and even over produce by 2016."

It will be the first time since independence that the country will cease to import cement, he noted.

The entry into operation of two new cement plants in the province of Biskra, of a total production capacity of 4 million tons, will, besides the national network of operating cement plants, meet the demand of the domestic cement market, stressed Bouchouareb.

In the commune of Branis, the Minister had laid the first stone of a private cement plant, "La biskrie des ciments", which will be operational in December 2015 with an annual capacity of one million ton.