In implementation of the directives of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, aimed at valorizing strategic national resources and developing future industries with high added value, Mr. Mohamed Arkab, Minister of State, Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines, and Dr. Mourad Adjal, Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies, chaired a joint coordination meeting dedicated to monitoring the progress in developing the lithium sector in Algeria.
The meeting was held in the presence of the Secretary of State to the Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines in charge of Mines, Ms. Karima Bakir Tafr, along with senior officials from both ministries and their affiliated institutions. The discussions focused on practical ways to develop this promising sector, which represents a key pillar in Algeria’s national energy transition and in strengthening the country’s industrial and technological sovereignty.
During the meeting, the Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines presented a detailed report on the progress of lithium mining exploration projects, particularly the results of field studies conducted in Tamanrasset and Ain Guezzam in cooperation with the Chinese group Ganfeng Lithium. The studies revealed promising indicators for the presence of this strategic resource as well as other rare minerals. He also outlined the practical steps to implement the recently signed memorandum of understanding between the National Office of Geological and Mining Research (ORGM) representing Sonaram, and Professor Karim Zghib, an international expert in lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery technologies, aimed at developing the full value chain of lithium industry in Algeria.
For his part, Dr. Mourad Adjal emphasized the importance of coordinating efforts and unifying visions between the concerned sectors to prepare a comprehensive national roadmap, linking the upstream (exploration, extraction, chemical processing) with the downstream (manufacturing, battery production, energy storage). He highlighted the need to involve national talents and Algerian experts abroad, alongside industrial stakeholders, to build a strong scientific and industrial base that enables Algeria to position itself as a regional hub for lithium battery production and development.
Both ministers stressed that the lithium sector represents one of Algeria’s strategic pillars, as it is directly linked to renewable energies, electric mobility, and clean technologies. Its development aligns with the objectives of the national energy transition, aimed at reducing carbon footprint and diversifying economic income sources.
The meeting concluded by defining a set of practical priorities, including:
- Accelerating the implementation of the memorandum of understanding with Professor Karim Zghib and activating technical and scientific follow-up mechanisms.
- Preparing a joint action plan between the two ministries outlining the medium- and long-term stages of lithium sector development.
- Strengthening coordination between scientific research and industry to build an integrated national energy storage ecosystem.
- Launching pilot projects for the production of active materials used in LFP battery manufacturing.
The ministers reaffirmed that developing this sector is a strategic choice for building a national knowledge- and technology-based economy. They renewed the government’s commitment to support this promising project, ensuring sustainable utilization of national resources and contributing to Algeria’s energy and technological sovereignty.