Algeria is planning four projects to develop its phosphate processing industry, according to Mohamed Taher Bouarroud, the director-general of the mining department at the Ministry of Industry & Mines.

“The ministry has identified four projects that are currently being discussed with foreign companies. The planned facility will produce phosphoric acid and different types of fertiliser,” Bouarroud said in comments to government-owned news agency Algerie Presse Service.

Under current plans the projects will be located in three different locations: Souk Ahras province; the port city of Skikda; and Tebessa province.

Once operational the schemes are expected to process the phosphate from ore to finished product.

Algeria’s estimated phosphate reserves stand at 2 billion tonnes and the country annually produces about 1.5 million tonnes, 98 per cent of which is exported.

The North African country is targeting annual production of 10 million tonnes by 2020.

Currently there are no facilities to process phosphates in Algeria.