On February 1 local time, the full-track installation of Algeria's Western Mining Railway was completed. Jointly constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC) and Algerian state-owned enterprises, it is Africa's first heavy-haul desert railway built by a Chinese enterprise.
Algeria’s Western Mining Railway jointly constructed by CRCC and Algerian state-owned enterprises opens on February 1, 2026. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Spanning 950 kilometers, the project includes a 575-kilometer section constructed by CRCC and local state-owned companies. As Algeria’s largest infrastructure project undertaken by a Chinese enterprise, the railway connects Bechar Province with the Gara Djebilet iron ore mining area in Tindouf Province. Upon operation, it will improve the Algerian national railway network, enhance connectivity in the country’s southwestern regions, and boost the development of the local mining industry.
Throughout the construction, the Chinese team prioritized advanced technologies and strict adherence to standards. A key achievement was CRCC’s pioneering design of prestressed concrete sleepers suitable for 32.5-ton axle-load freight trains and 120 km/h passenger services. From design and manufacturing to implementation, the railway has demonstrated the full‑chain mastery of China’s independently developed heavy-haul railway technology, to which China holds full proprietary intellectual property rights.
The extensive use of China-made equipment provided a strong impetus for the project. The project also introduced Algeria's first CPG500 track-laying machine, which successfully laid 504-meter-long rails and increased daily track-laying and welding capacity to 4.5 kilometers. Additionally, China-made fixed flash-butt rail welding production lines were put into operation, completing up to 260 welds per line per day, significantly boosting on-site construction efficiency.
An aerial view of the track-laying process of Algeria’s Western Mining Railway. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
To meet the needs of local railway industry development, CRCC also advanced the construction of supporting railway industries. It introduced the entire industrial chain of a sleeper factory into Algeria, achieving a daily output of 5,200 sleepers, continuously setting new production records in Algeria and across Africa. This marks the first innovative transfer of China’s complete heavy-haul railway concrete sleeper technology package.
As a vital artery for national economic development, the project is expected to deliver 50 million tons of iron ore annually and 25 million tons of finished and semi-finished products from Bechar, significantly upgrading the country's railway transport capacity. Two daily passenger trains are scheduled to operate after its opening, providing convenience for local residents. Furthermore, the railway is expected to create no fewer than 3,000 local jobs, boosting employment and driving economic growth in the area.
(Executive editor: Yuan Ting)
