Algeria’s Chlef cement works in Oued Sly intends to double its production capacity to 4Mta as the country’s Minister of Industry, Cherif Rahmani, launched the project for a new line during a visit to the area.

Output from the new unit is earmarked for the domestic market, which currently has a 5Mt supply deficit. As a result, the government expects to curtail the present imports needed to supplement the 18Mt domestic production. Algeria aims to produce 20Mt by 2016 and 29Mt by 2018 as it realises an ambitious expansion programme.