Published on 5 November 2025 in Client Alerts

Algeria adopts new mining law

On 3 August 2025, Algeria adopted Law No. 25‑12 of 3 August 2025 governing mining activities, which was published in the Official Journal No. 52 on 7 August 2025 (“New Mining Law”).  The law repeals the previous mining regime established under Law No. 14-05 of 24 February 2014.

A key objective of the New Mining Law is to define the legal regime applicable to geological infrastructure activities, research and exploitation of mineral or fossil substances and to establish the institutional framework governing them.  It modernises the legal framework in order to attract private, including foreign, investment to the mining sector and to support Algeria’s efforts to diversify beyond hydrocarbons.

Under the new law, companies applying for exploitation permits must be Algerian-registered, and a national company wholly owned by the Algerian State must hold a minimum 20 % stake in the venture; foreign investors may hold up to 80 %.

The duration for exploration titles is set at an initial period of up to four years, renewable twice for maximum two-year extensions each; the mining exploitation permit term may be up to thirty years, with renewals permitted in periods not exceeding twenty years each.  The law also has different periods of titles for different types of mining registered with the company.  The New Mining Law also introduces streamlining of administrative procedures, improved transparency in the award of mining titles and open access to geological data to make the sector more attractive.

Transitional provisions ensure that existing titles granted under the old regime remain valid until expiry and holders have 24 months from the publication of the New Mining Law to apply for conversion to the new regime.