At a signing ceremony held at the Congress International Center in Algiers, GEA CEO Stefan Klebert, alongside representatives from Baladna and the Algerian government, officially launched a project that will reshape the country’s dairy sector. The agreement mandates GEA to design, equip and support an advanced production site that will integrate dairy farming and milk powder processing at an unprecedented scale.
Currently the world’s third-largest importer of milk powder, Algeria seeks to strengthen self-sufficiency. Once completed, the new facility will produce around 100,000 tons of milk powder annually, meeting up to 50% of the country’s demand. Production is planned to begin in late 2027, with construction starting in early 2026.
“This lighthouse project is not only about building the world’s largest dairy and milk powder facility,” said GEA CEO Stefan Klebert. “It is about supporting regional food security and driving economic growth through advanced engineering and sustainable production.” The order, valued between EUR 140 and 170 million, will be booked in the second half of 2025. It represents one of the largest single contracts ever awarded to GEA.
The initiative is led by Baladna Algeria S.P.A., a new joint venture between the National Investment Fund of Algeria and Baladna Q.P.S.C., Qatar’s leading dairy and food producer. The project is expected to create around 5,000 jobs, fostering local talent and expertise. Baladna Chairman Mohamed Moutaz Al-Khayyat emphasized: “This partnership brings together global and local expertise. With GEA’s proven technologies, we are committed to building a project that meets the highest international standards.”
GEA will provide end-to-end solutions covering the full milk powder value chain. This includes advanced milking parlors, separators, membrane filtration, heat treatment, evaporation and spray drying systems, as well as automated packaging solutions. The project leverages the combined capabilities of GEA’s Liquid & Powder Technologies and Farm Technologies divisions, supported by other GEA business units. With a strong track record in large-scale dairy projects in regions such as India, China, Qatar and Ireland, GEA will ensure reliable, efficient and safe operations throughout the plant’s lifecycle.
Construction of the facility will begin in early 2026, with first production scheduled for late 2027 and a gradual increase in output in the following years. This ambitious project marks a major milestone in Algeria’s path toward food independence and underlines GEA’s role as a global leader in engineering solutions for the food industry.
