Gara Djebilet: Pivotal Iron Ore Project Strengthening Algeria’s Industrial Future
Gara Djebilet, an iron ore mine covering more than 40,000 hectares in southwestern Algeria, is regarded as one of the country’s most strategically important mining projects and a cornerstone of national efforts to strengthen the industrial base and diversify the economy.
The project aims to meet the needs of Algeria’s iron and steel industry, creating sustained economic momentum, and opening up wide-ranging employment opportunities. These combined objectives underscore the mine’s role as a nationally structuring project, contributing to economic diversification and long-term industrial growth.
Gara Djebilet is one of the world’s largest iron ore deposits, ranking third globally with estimated reserves of 3.5 billion tons. Covering more than 40,000 hectares, the site is located approximately 130 kilometers southeast of Tindouf, in Algeria’s southwest.
The project seeks to produce 50 million tons of iron ore annually, which will be converted into approximately 25 million tons of marketable products. It consists of oolitic iron ore of sedimentary origin, distributed across three main blocks—west, central, and east—with a near-horizontal body, a thin rock cover, and a thickness ranging between 15 and 30 meters.
Gara Djebilet embodies a long-standing national aspiration first expressed by the late President Houari Boumédiène and aligns with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s vision to develop the mining sector and reduce dependence on hydrocarbons.
