Malek Ould Hamou on “L'invité du jour”: the Oued Amizour zinc and lead mine stands out on the international stage

Speaking on Tuesday on the programme "L'invité du jour" (Guest of the Day) on Algerian Radio Channel 3, Professor Malek Ould Hamou, director of the mining engineering laboratory and consultant in the field, provided technical and economic insights into this major project.

A project that stands out in international markets

According to him, "the Oued Amizour deposit is a polymetallic ore composed mainly of zinc and lead. It is an ore composed of lead and zinc, with an estimated 34 million tonnes of exploitable reserves," explaining that the reserves contain approximately 170,000 tonnes of zinc and 30,000 tonnes of lead. Although this project is not comparable in volume to some large iron ore projects, it stands out for "the high value of these metals on international markets."

The professor also points out that the ore's content remains relatively low. "Lead and zinc ore contains around 4% zinc and less than 1.5% lead," he explains, which requires specific processing methods to efficiently extract the metals contained in the total mass of ore.

A deposit ranked among the most significant in the world

Despite its smaller size compared to some major iron deposits, the Oued Amizour site stands out on an international scale. "The Oued Amizour deposit ranks around twelfth in the world," says Professor Ould Hamou, adding that this position reflects the strategic importance of the project for Algeria. "The deposit will strengthen the national supply of raw materials for the metallurgical industry and reduce dependence on imports," he adds, noting that "mining will be carried out underground, unlike some open-pit mines."

"It is an underground operation where blocks of ore will be extracted and then transferred to a processing plant," he explains, adding that "the raw ore will then be sent to a treatment plant to concentrate the useful metals."

Ore processing and technologies used

According to him, mining is not limited to the extraction of ore. An essential step is to process the ore to increase its metal content. "Extracting and selling the raw material as it comes out of the mine is not a solution at all," the professor emphasises, explaining that "the process used is flotation, a physico-chemical technique commonly used in mineral processing. The process implemented at Oued Amizour is a physico-chemical process called flotation."

In practical terms, the ore will first undergo mechanical processing. "This means reducing or fragmenting the ore, which comes in blocks, to a size of less than 100 microns," he explains. This step then separates the useful minerals using chemical reagents such as collectors, depressants, activators and medium regulators.

Through this process, the ore's content can be significantly increased. "From 1.2% lead or a few per cent zinc, the rate can be increased to around 60%," explains the specialist.

Economic and environmental impacts and operating life

The professor believes that the project will have significant economic benefits at both the regional and national levels. "Thousands of jobs will be created at the mine," says Professor Ould Hamou, referring to direct and indirect jobs related to mining, ore processing and logistics. The deposit is estimated to have a mining life of 19-20 years. "With 34 million tonnes of reserves, the mine should operate for around 20 years," he says, emphasising that "the project also includes environmental measures to limit the impact on the ecosystem. Some of the mining waste will be reused to fill underground voids to prevent subsidence. The waste will be mixed with cement to replenish the volumes that have been mined."

Furthermore, "water and waste management will be subject to specific measures to avoid any risk of pollution, particularly related to acid mine drainage," he emphasises, stating that the project is being carried out as part of a partnership between an Algerian group, which holds a 51% majority stake, and the Australian company Terramin Australia Limited, which holds a 49% stake and provides technical expertise.

Ultimately, production will first serve the domestic market before any surplus is exported. "First, the domestic market, then any surplus will be exported," concludes Professor Ould Hamou.