Cevital has the potential to lead one of the most ambitious megaprojects in Algeria’s history. Cap 2015 would transform Cap Djinet into an industrial city of 250,000 inhabitants and would generate $15bn a year in non-oil exports, rising to $30bn by 2030.

Raising the $20-30bn of investment needed to make the scheme happen is where the challenge lies. This could be done through a public-private partnership with the Algerian government and local and international investors, but this has not yet materialised.

Cevital also needs European partners to help fund a planned $8bn project to source solar power from the Sahara. While Berlin’s Desertec consortium has made progress with solar power projects in Morocco, the Algerian government wants local players to take the lead in any new initiatives.

Its retail and distribution arm has a more certain future. Last year, Cevital’s fast-growing subsidiary Numidis opened a 2,000 square metre Uno hypermarket at Bab Ezzouar near Algiers International airport. Uno Bab Ezzouar is billed as Algeria’s first home-grown hypermarket and Numidis aims to open up to four new hypermarkets a year, nationwide.

Long-term, it aims to centralise its purchasing and distribution hubs to supply goods to 1,500 retail outlets by 2025.