Future-proofing Algeria’s flagship
Groupe Industriel des Ciments d’Algérie is set to increase its total cement capacity by 2.2Mta, thanks to the new Sigus cement plant, located in the province of Oum El Bouaghi, eastern Algeria. Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) partner thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions provided the complete range of key equipment, process solutions and 360˚ services to make this new greenfield cement plant future-proof. By Flavia Morlaix, thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions, France.
Construction work on the 2.2Mta Sigus works at Oum El Bouaghi, Algeria, has now been completed
State-owned Groupe Industriel des Ciments d’Algérie (GICA) owns 14 of the country’s 18 cement plants, including the Saoura-Béchar works which is due to start operations in 2020.
To strengthen its leading position, GICA has launched several projects to increase capacity and reduce Algeria’s reliance on large volumes of imported cement.
Overall, the country’s total domestic cement capacity has more than doubled in under a decade to reach 38Mta. In 2018 the country switched from being a net cement importer to a net cement and clinker exporter, targeting west Africa and Europe in particular.
