Minister Arkab: Lithium discovery to position Algeria as key player in green technology

ALGIERS – Algerian Minister of State, Minister of Energy, Mines, and Renewable Energy, Mohamed Arkab, confirmed on Sunday that the discovery of lithium in the southern regions of the country will position Algeria as a key player in green technology and enhance its role in the global energy value chain.

Speaking at a workshop on the development of the lithium sector, which was attended by Secretary of State to the Minister of Energy responsible for Renewable Energy, Noureddine Yassaa, and Secretary of State to the Minister of Energy responsible for Mines, Karima Tafer, Minister Arkab said, “The time has come to focus on strategic minerals with high added value, including lithium, which has become one of the most important materials that can establish Algeria as a leading player in green technology.”

The meeting, which included CEOs of sectoral institutions, the Director General of the Algerian Investment Promotion Agency, and prominent experts such as Professor Karim Zaghib, an international expert in lithium battery production, and Professor Youcef Toumi, emphasised that lithium is a vital element for the development of batteries, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems, representing “a strategic opportunity to strengthen Algeria’s position in the global energy value chain.”

Among these types of batteries, there are “LFP” batteries, made from a lithium-iron-phosphate combination, explained Professor Zaghib, reiterating the importance of innovation in battery technology to ensure sustainability and reduce carbon footprints, particularly in relation to electricity and its societal impact.

Professor Zaghib also discussed various energy storage methods, comparing different types of batteries and their characteristics, such as energy density and safety, as well as the process of converting ores, particularly how lithium is transformed into materials suitable for battery use. Additionally, he outlined several uses for lithium, including in the glass, ceramics, air treatment industries, and even in medicine.

Three workshops on lithium were organised during the day, covering the topics of “Exploration and Extraction,” “Refining and Transformation,” and “Applications and Markets.”