(Ecofin Agency) - The National Iron and Steel Company (Feraal – Société National du Fer et de l’Acier) will select, prior to end October, an international expert firm to study the feasibility of operations on the mega deposit of Gara Djebilet, APS reports.

The choice will be made “from a shortlist of 3 international firms of world renown and specialised in mining, steel and metal industry”, Ahmed Benabbas, General Manager of Feraal, confided to APS.

The study will allow to have a better understanding of the potential of Gara Djebilet, the iron ore production capacities, the operation costs, as it will give indications on the steel market in Algeria.

The Gara Djebilet deposit should contain between 1.5 and 2 billion tons of iron ore, according to estimates from previous studies dating back to 1960s and 1970s.

Feraal is considering developing this deposit through the installation of a plant with a production capacity of 10 to 12 million tons in 2025.

The company was created in 2014 as part of a partnership between Sonatrach, and the GICA, Manadjim El Djazaïr and Sider groups.