Western Algeria mining railway drives economic change
Nearly 950-kilometer rail megaproject boosts mining, steel production, jobs, and regional integration across Algeria’s southwest
ALGIERS, Algeria (MNTV) — Algeria’s western mining railway megaproject, stretching nearly 950 kilometers across the southwest, is emerging as one of 2025’s most consequential infrastructure initiatives and a major driver of national economic growth.
Launched in November 2023 by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the railway links Bechar, Beni Abbes, Tindouf, and the strategic Gara Djebilet mining zone. Economists describe the project as a turning point for both industrial development and social transformation in Algeria’s southwestern provinces.
Once operational, the line will expand the national rail network and connect mineral-rich regions to industrial hubs and port facilities in the northwest over a total distance approaching 2,000 kilometers. Officials say the project will modernize mining logistics and significantly strengthen Algeria’s steel industry.
Experts note that improved access to the Gara Djebilet iron deposits will enhance production capacity, stimulate downstream manufacturing, and create substantial employment opportunities across the region.
Abdessamad Boudi, director of the Laboratory for Economic Studies and Local Development of the Southwest at the University of Bechar, said the railway’s impact will be long-term, reshaping both rail infrastructure and the exploitation of iron resources. He added that the project supports economic diversification and reduces reliance on hydrocarbons while respecting sustainability requirements.
Economist and UTMB lecturer Mebarek Benzair said the line will revitalize mineral transport and domestic freight and passenger movement, while integrating previously isolated areas such as the border town of Tabelbala into the national economy.
Oversight of the project has been led by the National Agency for Railway Investment Studies and Implementation Monitoring (ANESRIF), which has supervised construction since inception.
Work has been carried out by Algerian public company consortiums, with support on certain sections from China Railway Construction Corporation Limited.
ANESRIF officials said construction sites generated more than 8,000 jobs and were subject to continuous monitoring to ensure compliance with timelines and technical standards. The project includes 1,431 engineering structures, such as 45 railway bridges, 48 road bridges, and more than 1,300 hydraulic installations.
Project director Abdechafii Benrabi said the railway viaducts span a combined 20 kilometers, including the 4.1-kilometer Oued Daoura bridge in Tindouf province, now the longest railway bridge in Algeria and Africa.
Although initially scheduled for phased delivery in 2026, officials said the project was completed ahead of schedule, citing the technical capacity of national companies and international partners.
Related railway connections, including a 7.3-kilometer link serving the Bethioua industrial zone near Oran, have also been completed, further reinforcing the network’s industrial and logistical role.
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