Algerian Qatari Steel Jijel plant
From Global Energy Monitor
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Algerian Qatari Steel Jijel plant (مركب بلارة للحديد والصلب, Complexe Sidérurgique de Bellara, الجزائرية القطرية للصلب), also known as AQS, is a steel plant in El-Milia, Jijel, Algeria that operates electric arc furnace (EAF) and direct reduced iron (DRI) technology.
Location
The map below shows the exact location of the plant in El-Milia, Jijel, Algeria:
- Location: Bellara industrial zone, El-Milia, Jijel, Algeria
- Coordinates (WGS 84): 36.753961, 6.24442 (exact)
Background
The Algerian Qatari Steel Jijel plant started operating a rolling mill in 2017, and added DRI and EAF capacity to reach a total of 2.5 mtpa of iron and 2.1 mtpa of steel by 2021.[1][2] The complex was billed as the largest plant with combined Hot Direct Reduced Iron and Cold Direct Reduced Iron capacity in the world.[3] In February 2022, representatives from Qatar and Algeria signed an MOU to study steel investments and expand capacity at the plant to over four million tons of steel production annually.[4] In 2026, those plans for expansion were still being discussed, and had not yet moved to the construction phase.[5]
Ownership Tree
This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.
Plant Details
Table 1: General Plant Details
| Announced date | Construction date | Start date | Workforce size | Iron ore source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013[6] | 2015[6][7] | 2017[8] | 2800[9] | P100000128018[10] |
Table 2: Ownership and Parent Company Information
| State-owned entity status | Parent company | Parent company PermID | Parent GEM entity ID | Owner | Owner company PermID | Owner GEM entity ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partial | Industries Qatar QPSC [49.0%]; FNI - Fonds National d’Investissement [5.0%]; Groupe Industriel Sider SpA | 4295886945 [49.0%]; 4296432587 [5.0%]; 5000941519 | E100000000840 [49.0%]; E100002020869 [5.0%]; E100001000960 | Algerian Qatari Steel [100%][9] | 5076384326 | E100001000957 [100%] |
Table 3: Process and Products
| Steel product category | Steel products | ISO 14001 | ISO 50001 | Responsible steel | Main production equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| semi-finished, finished rolled[9] | billet, wire rod, rebar, cold DRI[9] | yes[9][11] | yes[12] | unknown | DRI; EAF |
Table 4: Plant-level Crude Steel Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)
| Capacity operating status1 | Electric arc furnace steelmaking capacity | Nominal crude steel capacity (total) |
|---|---|---|
| announced | 2200[13][14] | 2200[13][14] |
| operating | 2100[15] | 2100[15] |
Table 5: Plant-level Crude Iron Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)
| Capacity operating status1 | Sponge iron/DRI capacity | Nominal iron capacity (total) |
|---|---|---|
| announced | 2000[14] | 2000[14] |
| operating | 2500[15][16][17] | 2500[15][16][17] |
Table 6: Upstream Products Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)
| Sinter | Pellets |
|---|---|
| NF | NF |
Table 7: Actual Plant-level Crude Steel Production by Year (thousand tonnes per annum)
| Year | BOF production | EAF production | Other/unknown steel production | Total (all routes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | –[15] | 1[15] | unknown[15] | 1[15] |
| 2020 | –[15] | 141[15] | unknown[15] | 141[15] |
| 2021 | –[15] | 698[15] | unknown[15] | 698[15] |
| 2022 | –[15] | 1436[15] | unknown[15] | 1436[15] |
| 2023 | –[15] | 1634[15] | unknown[15] | 1634[15] |
| 2024 | unknown[15] | 1903[15] | unknown[15] | 1903[15] |
Table 8: Actual Plant-level Crude Iron Production by Year (thousand tonnes per annum)
| Year | BF production | DRI production | Other/unknown iron production | Total (all routes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | – | unknown | unknown | – |
| 2020 | – | unknown | unknown | – |
| 2021 | –[15] | 827[15] | unknown[15] | 827[15] |
| 2022 | –[15] | 1688[15] | unknown[15] | 1688[15] |
| 2023 | –[15] | 1893[15] | –[15] | 1893[15] |
| 2024 | unknown[15] | 2301[15] | –[15] | 2301[15] |
Unit Details
Table 9: Direct Reduced Iron Furnace Details
| Unit name | Status | Announced date | Start date | Furnace manufacturer and model | Furnace type | Current capacity (ttpa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| unknown DRI (1) | operating[18] | 2016[10] | 2021[10] | Paul Wurth Midrex Megamodule[10][10] | shaft furnace[10] | 2500[16][17][15] |
| unknown DRI (2) | announced[19] | 2022[10] | 2026[10] | – | not found | 2000[14] |
Table 10: Direct Reduced Iron Furnace Reductant Details
| Unit name | Current or initial reductant | Hydrogen reductant status | Future hydrogen reductant color |
|---|---|---|---|
| unknown DRI (1) | gas[10] | – | not found |
| unknown DRI (2) | unknown | unknown | not found |
Table 11: Electric Arc Furnace Details
| Unit name | Status | Announced date | Furnace manufacturer and model | Current capacity (ttpa) | Current size (tonnes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAF 1 | operating[10] | – | Danieli[20] | 1050[15] | 120.0[10] |
| EAF 2 | operating[10] | – | Danieli[20] | 1050[15] | 120.0[10] |
| unknown EAF (3) | announced[21][14] | 2024-01[14] | – | 2200[14][13] | – |
Table 12: Electric Arc Furnace Feedstock Details
| Unit name | Scrap-based | % scrap | % DRI | % HBI | % sponge iron (unknown if DRI or HBI) | % basic/merchant pig iron | % granulated pig iron | % pig iron (unknown if basic/merchant or granulated) | % other iron |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAF 1 | yes[20] | >0[20] | >0[22] | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown |
| EAF 2 | yes[20] | >0[20] | >0[22] | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown |
| unknown EAF (3) | yes[23] | >0[23] | >0 | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown |
Articles and Resources
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of steel plants, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Iron and Steel Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
References
- ↑ r.search.yahoo.com http://r.search.yahoo.com/RV=2/RE=1762882995/RO=10/RU=https://2024.aisusteel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Osama-Sakr_AQS.pdf/RK=2/RS=GKrAtuFBMXAKvmCKI5MqL9df1Mc-. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ Sihem, Chabane (2024). "AQS's Success Story and Technical Achievements".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Algerian-Qatari Steel (AQS): At First Glance | Midrex Technologies, Inc". Midrex Technologies, Inc. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
- ↑ "H.E. Minister of Commerce and Industry and H.E. Algerian Minister of Trade and Export Promotion witness signing of MoU to study investment opportunities in steel industry – Ministry of Commerce and Industry". www.moci.gov.qa. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ↑ Grigorenko, Yuriy (July 3, 2026). "Qatar and Algeria are set to double the capacity of their joint steelworks". GMK Center.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://www.zawya.com/en/projects/projects-algeria-to-launch-new-steel-production-unit-gltvh9d4.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230321213602/https://www.idom.com/en/new/aqs-start-up-of-the-first-steel-melt-shop/. Archived from the original on 2023-03-21.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20221114215719/https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/03/11/2022/inauguration-of-algerian-qatari-steel-affirms-amirs-algerian-presidents-interest-in-developing-investment-ties. Archived from the original on 2022-11-14.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 https://web.archive.org/web/20211207024334/https://aqs.dz/. Archived from the original on 2021-12-07.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 https://web.archive.org/web/20230411213810/https://www.midrex.com/tech-article/algerian-qatari-steel-aqs-at-first-glance/. Archived from the original on 2023-04-11.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://www.qna.org.qa/ar-QA/News-Area/News/2024-02/28/0035-%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9---%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%A8-%D9%84%D9%80-%D9%82%D9%86%D8%A7-%D9%86%D8%AD%D9%88-12-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D8%AC%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-2023.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://aqs.dz/news-details-39-algerian-qatari-steel-strengthens-leadership-by-achieving-iso-50001-energy-management-certification.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 https://one.oecd.org/document/DSTI/SC(2024)3/FINAL/en/pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 https://www.ennaharonline.com/%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%8F%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A8-%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B1-1500-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B5%D8%A8-%D8%B4%D8%BA%D9%84/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 15.11 15.12 15.13 15.14 15.15 15.16 15.17 15.18 15.19 15.20 15.21 15.22 15.23 15.24 15.25 15.26 15.27 15.28 15.29 15.30 15.31 15.32 15.33 15.34 15.35 15.36 15.37 15.38 15.39 15.40 15.41 15.42 15.43 15.44 15.45 15.46 https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrEmQ.yAAFpFAIAEVZXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzQEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1762882995/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2f2024.aisusteel.org%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2024%2f10%2fOsama-Sakr_AQS.pdf/RK=2/RS=GKrAtuFBMXAKvmCKI5MqL9df1Mc-.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20220516153425/https://www.idom.com/en/project/pmc-steel-algerian-qatari-steel-aqs-bellara-integral-steel-complex/. Archived from the original on 2022-05-16.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 (PDF) https://www.midrex.com/wp-content/uploads/Midrex-Plants-Sheet2022.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20240129182459/https://aqs.dz/news. Archived from the original on 2024-01-29.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://www.moci.gov.qa/en/mec_news/h-e-minister-of-commerce-and-industry-and-h-e-algerian-minister-of-trade-and-export-promotion-witness-signing-of-mou-to-study-investment-opportunities-in-steel-industry/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 https://web.archive.org/web/20240809182909/https://www.danieli-usa.com/en/latest-news.htm. Archived from the original on 2024-08-09.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230209050346/https://aisusteel.org/en/14930/. Archived from the original on 2023-02-09.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 22.0 22.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20240911002722/https://www.midrex.com/press-release/aqs-begins-dri-production-in-algeria/. Archived from the original on 2024-09-11.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 23.0 23.1 https://www.steelorbis.com/steel-news/latest-news/aqs-starts-hot-trials-at-second-steel-complex-to-launch-dri-output-by-june-1143031.htm.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)
