Algeria has decided to stop importing boats and naval equipment that can be manufactured locally, Transport Minister Kamel Beldjoud announced on Saturday, January 7 in Tipaza.
This announcement was made during the reception, by the Société de Gestion et d’exploitation des terminals marines à hydrocarbons (STH, subsidiary of Sonatrach), of the first 14-meter-long steel marine tug, manufactured with a rate of 65% integration in Algeria. This boat was manufactured by Ecorep (public shipbuilding and repair company).
“This type of equipment was imported in recent years through international tenders. From now on, instructions will be given not to resort to international calls for tenders and to work with the company Ecorep”, announced Mr. Beldjoud.
“Boats with a high integration rate”
Suiting the deed to the word, the Minister of Transport announced that his department will give up launching an international call for tenders, which was being prepared, to acquire three or four marine steel tugs in 2023, and to entrust the project to Ecorep. “We are going to ensure a load plan for Ecorep”, promised Kamel Beldjoud.
For his part, the Minister of Industry Ahmed Zeghdar, present at this ceremony, indicated that “two other similar tugs will be delivered by Ecorep to the STH in 2023. The first will be delivered at the end of the first quarter of 2023 and the second at the end of the second quarter of the current year”.
Ahmed Zeghdar added that the integration rate of the two tugs that will be delivered by Ecorep to STH in 2023 “will be higher”. “The marine-grade steel plates needed to manufacture the tugs will be manufactured at the El Hadjar steel complex in Annaba,” he said.
