As Algeria grapples with a significant industrial and energy crisis, the recent announcement by the Ministry of Industry and state-owned Sonatrach of three “green” cement plant projects is being widely perceived as a media tactic rather than a substantive step towards genuine ecological transition.
The plan involves constructing two new units in Djelfa and Relizane, alongside an expansion of the existing Adrar cement plant. While these initiatives are presented as key milestones in the sector’s decarbonization, critics point to a striking lack of clarity regarding the specific technologies to be implemented, the financial commitments, and the targeted environmental objectives. To date, no concrete plans have been communicated regarding the integration of international standards such as LC3 cement, low-carbon technologies, or CO₂ capture systems.
This paradox is further highlighted by Algeria’s existing structural overcapacity in the cement sector. The country’s annual production significantly exceeds 25 million tons, while domestic demand hovers around 15 million tons. Algeria’s strategy relies on exports to absorb this surplus, but its logistics infrastructure remains inadequate, and its current industrial facilities are aging and contribute to high carbon emissions.
Behind the “ecological cement” label, the proposed processes appear to be less innovative than advertised, relying on methods such as partial substitution of clinker, thermal recovery, or the use of uncertified industrial waste. These techniques, which are rarely subjected to independent audits, reportedly fall short of the sustainability standards required in international markets, particularly in Europe.
Compounding the issue is a virtually nonexistent regulatory framework. Algeria lacks a sectoral roadmap aligned with the Paris Agreements, as well as a clear national strategy for carbon capture and storage. The sector’s governance, characterized by underperforming public companies and private actors with limited transparency, is hindering any credible reform momentum.
In contrast to Morocco, which is actively aligning its industrial policy with green growth, integration into European value chains, and the development of green hydrogen, Algeria appears to remain caught in a cycle of rhetoric without concrete operational implementation. In a tense social context marked by water shortages, power outages, and soaring inflation, these “green cement” announcements are seen by some as a form of technocratic escapism, disconnected from the immediate priorities of the population, especially in the southern provinces.
Ultimately, the invocation of “green cement” appears to be less an indication of a genuine ecological shift and more a superficial attempt at “greenwashing,” likely intended to reassure foreign partners and mask the absence of a truly comprehensive energy transition strategy.
MK/te/Sf/fss/abj/APA