Algeria’s government has announced a plan to build three “green” cement plants in different parts of the country as part of its effort to reduce pollution and support clean energy. But many observers and experts are calling it a public relations move rather than a serious environmental project.
The Ministry of Industry and the state oil company Sonatrach recently revealed that two of the cement plants will be built in Djelfa and Relizane, while the third one will expand the existing plant in Adrar. The projects are being described as a “major step” in Algeria’s push to produce eco-friendly cement. But critics say there is little information about how the plants will actually help the environment.
According to experts, Algeria has not explained what kind of technology will be used in these plants. There is also no information about how much the projects will cost or how much pollution will be reduced. So far, the government has not mentioned if the plants will follow international environmental standards like low-carbon cement (LC3), carbon capture, or modern energy-saving systems.
This announcement also comes at a time when Algeria already produces more cement than it needs. The country makes over 25 million tons of cement every year, but it only uses around 15 million tons locally. To avoid waste, Algeria has been trying to export the extra cement, but many of its factories are old and pollute the environment, while its transportation system is weak and cannot support large-scale exports.
The term “green cement” is often used to suggest environmentally friendly production, but in Algeria’s case, it may not be entirely accurate. Reports show that the new projects will mostly use basic and outdated methods such as burning waste, recycling heat, and replacing some of the cement materials with industrial waste. These methods may help a little but do not meet the high standards required by international markets, especially in Europe. In fact, most of these methods are not even verified by independent bodies.
Another big problem is the lack of proper laws to guide Algeria’s cement and energy industries. The country does not have a national plan to reduce carbon emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. There is also no detailed strategy for carbon capture and storage, which are important tools used by many countries to fight climate change. Public companies are often slow and inefficient, while private companies are not very transparent, making it hard to bring in any real reforms.
In comparison, nearby Morocco is taking strong steps to grow its green economy. Morocco is working to reduce pollution in its industries, become part of the European green economy, and develop new energy sources like green hydrogen. This makes Algeria’s plan look less serious, and more like a way to make foreign investors and trade partners believe the country is making progress—when in reality, not much is changing on the ground.
Some citizens have also criticized the government’s focus on cement plants when the country is facing more urgent problems. Many Algerians are currently dealing with regular power cuts, water shortages, and rising prices of basic goods. These issues are hitting hard in the southern parts of the country, where people are already struggling. Critics say the government should be focusing on solving these real-life problems instead of making vague announcements about green projects.
In the end, many people believe that Algeria’s so-called “green cement” initiative is more of a “greenwashing” effort—a way to appear environmentally friendly without making real changes. It is a message meant to impress the outside world rather than fix the serious problems facing Algeria’s industry and energy sectors.
Until the government provides clear details, strong laws, and modern technologies for its cement projects, most experts say the green cement plan will remain a paper promise—not a true step toward sustainable development.
