Page 16 - AWA Vol.41-No.6 2025

DAIRY FARMING

GEA Mandated to Build World’s Largest

Integrated Dairy Facility in Algeria

At a formal event in Algiers, Baladna,
a leading Qatari dairy and food pro‑
ducer, the Algerian Government, and
GEA – represented by CEO Stefan Kle‑
bert – took part in a contract signing
ceremony, enabling the construction
of the world’s largest integrated dairy
farm and milk powder facility in Alge‑
ria. GEA was mandated to provide a
comprehensive range of dairy farming
and processing solutions. This project ogies, GEA will cover the entire value
is one of the largest single orders for chain of milk powder production when
GEA to date. Milk powder production constructing the facility – from dairy
is planned to commence in late 2027, farming to processing and packaging
with gradual scale‑up of production of the final product. The GEA divi‑
volumes over subsequent years. sions Liquid & Powder Technologies
GEA mandated to provide broad (LPT) and Farm Technologies (FT)
range of farm and processing equip‑ are contractual partners with Baladna
ment as well as process designs and Algeria. For both of those, the project
services in one of its largest orders to represents one of their single‑largest
date will commence at the beginning of orders ever received. Other GEA divi‑
2026, with first milk powder produc‑ sions will contribute technologies and
Order volume between 140 and 170
million Euros, with respective order tion scheduled to start in late 2027. products within that scope.
Production volumes will be gradually
intake to be booked in second half of expanded. When completed and fully GEA will provide a broad range of
2025 solutions from a single source to run
supplied, this facility’s final capacity
Project capitalizing on complemen‑ will amount to approximately 100,000 the facility’s large milking parlors as
tary portfolio of leading GEA technol‑ tons of milk powder per year. well as its milk powder and anhydrous
ogies and processes, with substantial “We are proud that Baladna and the milk fat installations. These include
contributions by different GEA busi‑ Algerian government are entrusting system solutions, such as separators,
nesses GEA to play a key part in this light‑ membrane filtration, heat treatment,
Unparalleled scope, significant con- house project,” says Stefan Klebert, as well as evaporation and spray dry‑
ing plants. Automated packaging and
tribution to food security CEO GEA. “Not only are we building service components are p art of the
Today, Algeria is the world's third the world’s largest facility of its kind scope, too. GEA has a global track re‑
largest importer of milk powder. To – we are also helping to strengthen cord in large‑scale plant and process
strengthen future autonomy and food regional food security and economic engineering, including dairy projects
security in dairy products, the Alge‑ development. This project showcases in India, China, Qatar or Ireland.
rian government – via its National In‑ the attractiveness of our technologies High-level signing event in Algeria
vestment Fund – and Baladna Q.P.S.C. and products, underpinned by our
from Qatar entered a strategic partner‑ extensive capabilities for large-scale Representatives of Baladna and
ship via the newly formed company process and plant engineering.” Baladna Algeria, GEA, as well as other
subsidiary Baladna Algeria S.P.A. The ”This engagement with GEA marks project partners took part in a formal
partnership’s purpose is to finance and a milestone in the acceleration of signing ceremony at the Congress
manage the construction of a state‑of‑ the project. We are proud to attract International Center in Algiers on 28
the‑art integrated dairy farming and the most prominent national and in‑ July. The event was attended by nu‑
milk powder production facility in ternational expertise and renowned merous high-profile guests, including
Algeria’s Adrar province. The locally companies from all over the world to Abdelaziz Ali Al‑Naama, ambassador
produced milk powder is planned to contribute to the completion of the of Qatar to Algeria, Algerian Minister
meet about 50% of Algeria's national project, following the highest interna‑ of Agriculture Youssef Cherfa and Mo‑
milk powder needs, representing a tional standards,” Mohamed Moutaz hamed Moutaz Al-Khayyat, Chairman
significant step towards self-sufficien‑ Al-Khayyat, Chairman of Baladna com‑ of the Board of Baladna Food Indus‑
cy. Additionally, the project will create mented. tries.
approximately 5,000 job opportunities GEA delivering complete milk pow- One of the event’s highlights was the
for local talents. der value chain, based on proven track signing of the order contract by Ali Al‑
The facility will be the largest of its record Ali, Chairman of the Board of Baladna
kind, located about 90 kilometers from Leveraging its innovative portfolio of Algeria, and GEA CEO Stefan Klebert.
the provincial capital. Construction complementary engineering technol‑ Circle 20 on enquiry card
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Vol. 40 No. 6