New mining legislation in Algeria will attract foreign investors
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New mining legislation in Algeria will attract foreign investors
The passing of Algeria’s 2025 Mining Law will attract foreign investors.
By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine.
New mining legislation in Algeria that allows foreign investors to own up to 80% of mining projects will attract mining and exploration companies to a vast region that remains relatively underexplored.
This groundbreaking legislation is a significant shift in government policy which historically dictated that foreign owned companies in mining could own 49% of a project, with 51% held by Algerian partners.
The new law, passed earlier this week, requires companies to obtain a single mining permit, valid for up to 30 years, for both exploration and extraction of minerals.
Documented deposits of critical minerals
In 2024 Algeria’s Ministry of Energy and Mines undertook an extensive exploration program in 23 provinces which indicated significant deposits of lead, zinc, copper and manganese in areas like Sétif, Jijel, Hadra, and Beni Segoual.
According to Algeria’s National Agency of Mining Activities (ANAM) and National Office of Geological and Mining Research (ORGM) there is documented critical mineral deposits, especially in the Hoggar region and central Sahara with “vast under-explored areas with potential for lithium, cobalt and Rare Earth Elements (REE).
Mining operations and permits
More than 2600 mining permits exist in these mineral rich areas. In the past few foreign investors entered the Algerian mining and exploration space, with mostly Chinese, Turkish and Russian operators present.
However, there are more than 1380 mines registered in the country that are operated by Algerian firms. Phopshate, Lead/Zinc and iron ore are the main products.
Recently Australian and EU mining firms and investors have shown interest in Algerian REEs and polymetallic assets.
Massive potential and opportunities
Algeria’s geology is highly prospective for world-class deposits especially in gold, copper, REEs, lithium and cobalt in the Hoggar Shield and for phosphate, iron ore, lead-zinc in the Northern and Central Basins.
There are massive opportunities and potential for early-stage exploration companies in Algeria and the country remains vastly underexplored. Algeria’s new mining policies will hopefully unlock that potential.
WhyAfrica tracks greenfields exploration
For more about geology, greenfields exploration and mining in Africa, visit the WhyAfrica website.
Remember, WhyAfrica tracks exploration and early-stage mining projects across Africa and where it is possible we visit those project sites to give our members and readers firsthand on-the-ground information about what could be the world’s next mining giants in five to ten years.
Once a year, WhyAfrica embarks on a 45 day long overland road trip through Africa to create awareness about the continent and to promote and market African companies to a large global audience. Contact us if you want to be part of the 2025 WhyAfrica Road Trip story.
Image credit: Mohamed Taha from Unsplash.
New mining legislation in Algeria will attract foreign investors