Algerian cement group GICA has announced that it will end a cement shortage by the end of 2016 due to the opening of extensions to its existing production sites in Aïn El-Kébira (Sétif) and Chlef. Both sites will have increased capacities of 2mn tonnes per year, with the former having potentially more.
GICA is also shortly set to reach an agreement with a foreign firm to extend its production sites in Zahana and Beni Saf, leading to a potential increase in production capacity of 3.5 million tonnes/year. The Group currently has an annual production capacity of 11.5 million tonnes, with an objective to increase this to 15.5 million by the end of 2016, and then 18.5 million tonnes by the end of 2018. In November 2018, production is set to start at two new cement works in Sigus and Béchar, with a combined production capacity of 3 million tonnes/year.
