GICA’S Timegtane cement plant in the Adrar region, Algeria, returned to production after a prolonged stoppage. Line 1, with a capacity of 1Mta, resumed operations on 12 April and a second line is expected to be commissioned soon.
Line 2 will have a production capacity of 1.5Mta, taking the plant’s total capacity to 2.5Mta.
The start-up was welcomed by the Minister of Industry, Sifi Ghrieb, who highlighted the efforts made by the GICA group and its partner public companies under conditions described as "difficult" and "complex”. The plant was resumed operations in less than a month, a technical and logistical feat that the Minister attributes to the firm commitment of the country's senior authorities to reactivate this industrial entity in the service of national development.
The Timegtane cement plant was part of an initial partnership between STG Sidi Moussa and China-based CTIEC Beijing, but is now owned by the Algerian state. Inaugurated in 2017, the plant represents an investment of DZD21bn (US$159.5m).
