In a formal ceremony held in Algiers on 28 July, Baladna, a leading Qatari dairy and food producer, the Algerian government, and GEA Group from Düsseldorf, Germany, signed a contract to build the world’s largest integrated dairy farm and milk powder facility in Adrar province, Algeria. GEA will provide comprehensive dairy farming and processing solutions for the project, marking one of its largest single orders to date. Milk powder production is scheduled to begin in late 2027, with output scaling up gradually.

Algeria, a major global importer of milk powder, aims to enhance its food security through this initiative. The Algerian government, via its National Investment Fund, and Baladna Q.P.S.C. have formed Baladna Algeria S.P.A. to oversee the project. Located 90 kilometers from Adrar’s provincial capital, the facility is expected to produce approximately 100,000 tons of milk powder annually at full capacity, meeting about 50% of Algeria’s domestic demand. The project will also create around 5,000 jobs for local workers.

GEA CEO Stefan Klebert stated: “We are proud that Baladna and the Algerian government are entrusting GEA to play a key part in this lighthouse project. Not only are we building the world’s largest facility of its kind – we are also helping to strengthen regional food security and economic development. This project showcases the attractiveness of our technologies and products, underpinned by our extensive capabilities for large-scale process and plant engineering.”

Mohamed Moutaz Al-Khayyat, Chairman of Baladna, added: “This engagement with GEA marks a milestone in the acceleration of the project. We are proud to attract the most prominent national and international expertise and renowned companies from all over the world to contribute to the completion of the project, following the highest international standards.”

GEA’s Liquid & Powder Technologies and Farm Technologies divisions will supply solutions across the milk powder production chain, including milking parlors, separators, membrane filtration, heat treatment, evaporation, spray drying, and automated packaging systems. Construction is set to start in early 2026, leveraging GEA’s global experience in large-scale dairy projects in countries like India, China, Qatar, and Ireland.

The signing ceremony at the Congress International Center in Algiers was attended by key figures, including Abdelaziz Ali Al-Naama, Qatar’s ambassador to Algeria, Algerian Minister of Agriculture Youssef Cherfa, and Baladna Chairman Mohamed Moutaz Al-Khayyat. The contract was signed by Ali Al-Ali, Chairman of Baladna Algeria, and GEA CEO Stefan Klebert, marking a significant step toward enhancing Algeria’s dairy production capabilities.