Construction of Western Mining Railway begins
Construction of the Western Mining Railway has kicked off. The lead contractor for the project is China Railway Construction Corp (CRCC), in partnership with local partner Cosider Travaux Publics commenced marked the start of works on the route running southwest from the existing railhead at Béchar in Algeria into the Sahara desert.
Western Mining Railway
The primary purpose of the railway is to transport iron ore from the Gara Djebilet mine to the Dumiat Industrial Zone. Gara Djebilet is noted as one of the largest iron ore reserves globally, with estimated deposits of 3.5 billion tonnes.
The railway will run southwest from the existing railhead at Béchar into the Sahara desert, covering a distance of 575 km. It will feature more than 40 stations, sidings, and loops to support the operation of iron ore trains. CRCC estimates that the railway will be completed within 30 months from the start of civil works, which began on April 9. Up to 3 million tonnes of ore per annum is expected to be shipped from the mines by the end of 2026. This project holds significant economic potential, not only in terms of facilitating the transportation of iron ore but also in terms of infrastructure development and job creation in the region.
