Pakistan’s Fatima Group and Algeria’s Sonarem Sign MoU to Boost Phosphate and Fertilizer Production

The partnership aims to enhance mining cooperation

, develop phosphate reserves, and expand fertilizer

manufacturing for local and international markets

Staff Reporter

Karachi: Pakistan’s Fatima Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Algeria’s industrial mining group Sonarem, through its subsidiary Somiphos, to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the mining industry and fertilizer production. The agreement was signed on August 6, 2025, at the Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Renewable Energies headquarters in Algiers.

The ceremony was chaired by Minister of State and Minister of Energy, Mines, and Renewable Energies Mohamed Arkab and attended by Secretary of State for Renewable Energies Noureddine Yassaâ, Sonarem CEO Belkacem Soltani, Somiphos CEO Lekhal Mokhtar, and Executive Director of Operations at Fatima Group’s Grand Exploration and Mining Company Mukhtar Abbas. The ambassadors of Pakistan to Algeria and Algeria to Pakistan, along with senior officials, were also present.

The MoU sets a framework for cooperation starting with the commercialization of phosphate from the Bir El Ater deposit, containing over 850 million tons of reserves. It includes beneficiation, local processing, and fertilizer manufacturing to strengthen value chains. The agreement also explores joint investments in industrial projects for Algerian, Pakistani, and global markets, with a focus on mineral resource valorization, value creation, and technical knowledge exchange.

This collaboration is part of Algeria’s strategy to attract high-quality Asian partners with advanced industrial expertise, especially in raw material processing. Fatima Group, one of Pakistan’s largest industrial conglomerates, operates in fertilizers, chemicals, energy, textiles, and agriculture. Its subsidiary, Fatima Fertilizer Company Limited, is a leading fertilizer producer in Pakistan and has invested in phosphate, copper, gold, and iron mining projects in Balochistan.

In a related meeting, Algeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries Youssef Cherfa met with Fatima Group’s Executive Director to discuss expanding agricultural sector investments, particularly in southern Algeria. The talks aimed to integrate phosphate fertilizer development with strategic agricultural projects to boost food security and economic growth.