The China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) has embarked on an ambitious endeavor to construct a 575km Sahara railway spanning the vast expanse of the Sahara desert, linking the Algerian iron ore mine at Gara Djebilet to the Moroccan rail network, as disclosed by the South China Morning Post. This significant project involves CRCC partnering, with Cosider Travaux Publics, a government owned civil engineering organization to achieve the goals of the initiative.
Location
The railway starts its journey, at Gara Djebilet mine. Extends to the Dumiat Industrial Zone in the Béchar region near the border. It is designed to be a transportation route with 40 placed stations to improve the provinces overall transport network. Gara Djebilet, operational since July 2022 is known for hosting one of the worlds deposits of high quality ore. Initial estimates suggest a production of around 3 million tons with forecasts predicting an increase, to 50 million tons.
Completion date
Beyond completion of 575km Sahara railway in 2026, China has pledged its commitment to undertaking ore extraction activities and erecting requisite facilities for research, enrichment, and de-phosphorization processes.Presently, China’s ore procurement heavily relies on imports primarily sourced from Australia (79%) and Brazil (19%), a necessity fueled by the nation’s status as the leading producer, commanding a staggering 52% share of the global steel output, amounting to an estimated 1 billion tonnes.Given the escalating tensions and strained economic and diplomatic relations between Beijing and Canberra, the initiation of this railway project serves as a strategic maneuver aimed at mitigating the inherent geopolitical risks associated with overdependence on ore imports from select countries.
The government of Algeria intends to use its mineral resources to amplify the development of other economic and to increase dependence on the oil and gas industries. This is now the case for the sector of non-oil industries which represent 19% of the country’s GDP and account for 93% of its export revenues. Through tapping and utilizing mineral resources, Algeria tries to build up permanent economic and social ground, and increase the ‘GSD’ level, too.
The South China Morning Post underscores CRCC’s proven track record and expertise in operating within the harsh and unforgiving terrains of the Sahara desert, evidenced by its prior involvement in the construction of segments of Algeria’s extensive 1,216-kilometer East-West Highway.Moreover, this ambitious undertaking serves to further cement the enduring and multifaceted relationship between China and Algeria, rooted in a shared history dating back to Algeria’s arduous struggle for independence against French colonial rule in the 1950s and 1960s.
Economic Impact
In a testament to the burgeoning ties between the two nations, the previous year witnessed the signing of 19 bilateral cooperation agreements amounting to a staggering $36 billion. These agreements encompass diverse sectors ranging from infrastructure development to telecommunications, with a significant emphasis on the construction of approximately 6,000 kilometers of railway networks. The initiation of this railway project highlights not only CRCC’s impressive engineering skills but also demonstrates China’s steadfast dedication to enhancing economic collaboration and promoting shared prosperity with its Algerian partners.
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