Algeria, Malaysia’s Lion Group Sign MoU to Boost Mining and Steel Cooperation
ALGIERS — The Sonarem Group and Malaysia’s Lion Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in mining exploration and exploitation, as well as the steel industry, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Renewable Energy.
The signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding took place at the Ministry’s headquarters under the supervision of the Secretary of State to the Minister of Energy in charge of Mines, Karima Tafer, the CEO of the “Sonarem” Group, Belkacemi Soltani, and senior officials from the ministry.
The memorandum of understanding is part of the implementation of the strategy of the Sonarem Group aimed at strengthening its partnerships with leading companies in the mining sector, the statement said.
Under this memorandum of understanding, both parties agreed to explore opportunities for cooperation in the fields of mineral exploration and exploitation, particularly gold, copper, manganese, and other ores, as well as the promotion of joint investments, exchange of expertise, and training of skilled workers.
The areas of cooperation also include the development of future mining sites and the processing of mineral resources, the statement added, highlighting the parties’ agreement to identify priority projects and establish the technical, financial, and legal frameworks to govern their cooperation.
A delegation from the Malaysian Lion Group was received by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on December 18, 2024. The group was also received by the Minister of State for Energy, Mines and Renewable Energies on July 11, 2024, and by the CEO of Sonarem on April 22, 2025, during meetings dedicated to exploring prospects for future cooperation in the mining sector.
The Malaysian “Lion” Group, led by Tan Sri William Cheng, operates in several Asian countries where it has invested in tire manufacturing and retail. The group, whose major subsidiary is Lion Industries Corporation Berhad, has become a key player in the steel sector and now seeks to invest in Algeria.
