Algerian Sonarem, Pakistan’s Fatima Sign MoU for Phosphate Fertilizer Production
A memorandum of understanding was signed on Wednesday in Algiers between the mining industrial group “Sonarem,” represented by its subsidiary “Somiphos,” and “Fatima Fertilizers,” a division of the Pakistani group “Fatima.” The agreement aims to enhance bilateral partnerships in mining industries and the production of various types of fertilizers, as stated in a press release from the Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Renewable Energies.
The signing ceremony took place at the ministry’s headquarters and was presided over by Minister of State, Minister of Energy, Mines, and Renewable Energies, Mohamed Arkab. Notable attendees included the Secretary of State to the Minister of Energy, responsible for Renewable Energies, Noureddine Yassaâ; CEO of Sonarem Group, Belkacem Soltani; CEO of Somiphos, Lekhal Mokhtar; and Executive Director of Operations at Grand Exploration and Mining Company, part of the Fatima group, Mukhtar Abbas.
In addition, the ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Pakistan to Algeria, the Algerian Ambassador to Pakistan, and several officials from both the ministry and the two companies.
This memorandum of understanding seeks to establish a framework for effective cooperation between the parties regarding the marketing of phosphate extracted from the Bir El Ater deposit during its initial phase. This collaboration will involve implementing contractual arrangements for enriching this vital resource and its subsequent local transformation, contributing to the development of phosphate fertilizer manufacturing and enhancing related value chains.
Furthermore, the agreement aims to explore partnership and investment opportunities in industrial projects targeting the Algerian and Pakistani markets, as well as other international markets. It will assess the potential for projects focused on valorizing mineral resources and creating added value through local manufacturing while facilitating the exchange of technical expertise between the two companies.
This cooperation is part of ongoing efforts to promote investment in the mining sector and strengthen high-quality partnerships with Asian partners recognized for their advanced industrial and technological expertise in raw materials processing and transformation industries.
Additionally, it aims to develop, enrich, and process the phosphate deposits extracted from the Bir El Ater mine, which boasts reserves exceeding 850 million tons.
On this occasion, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to cultivating a strategic partnership based on economic integration and the sustainable utilization of available mineral resources, aligning with the efforts of both countries to bolster food security and advance transformation industries based on natural resources.
It is noteworthy that the “Fatima Group” is one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Pakistan, operating across various sectors such as fertilizers, chemicals, energy, textiles, and agriculture. Its subsidiary, “Fatima Fertilizer Company Limited,” a leader in fertilizer production in Pakistan, has ventured into the mining sector through strategic projects in Balochistan province, focusing on the extraction and processing of phosphate, copper, gold, and iron.
