The Algerian government will import 1mn tonnes of cement to counteract the speculation in the national market, Algeria’s PresseArabe cited industry and investment promotion minister, Hamid Temmar, as saying at a news conference.

Temmar added the government has taken a measure to put a ceiling on cement prices and the margins of the different operators in the national cement market through a decree to be published soon. The minister made the announcement at a news conference held at the end of his inspection visit to the Cement Company of Mitidja in Blida province, 50km southeast of Algiers.