Algeria and Qatar have confirmed that they plan to build a 5 million tonnes-a-year steel (t/y) complex  at Bellara in the North African state.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed stating that a company will be formed with Qatar Steel International that will be responsible for the construction and operations of the proposed facility.  

The scope of works for the complex includes the construction of a direct reduced iron (DRI) plant, a melt shop and a long and flat rolling mill. The complex will be built in two phases of 2.5 million t/y and will be located at the Bellara Industrial Zone, about 40km from the port of Jijel in the east of the country.

The first phase will produce 2.5 million t/y with a further 2.5 million t/y being added in a second phase.

MEED reported in April that Industries Qatar has already made an investment of over $400m in the project and through its Qatar Steel International subsidiary and is exploring the possibility of sourcing iron ore from mines near the Algeria/Mauritania border.