On the edge of the North African desert in October, the award notice was sent from Algiers. The consortium formed by CCECC and local enterprise Infraail has taken over the 230 kilometer steel rail from Geldaye to Ermenia. The accumulated ore in the mining area finally waited for a fast lane leading to the port.

The Second Leg in the Desert

This newly built line has a total length of 230 kilometers, a construction period of 24 months, and a contract value of approximately 1.187 billion US dollars, equivalent to 157.083 billion dinars. The project was awarded by ANESRIF, the National Railway Investment Authority of Algeria, and the African Development Bank has approved $878.09 million in financing for the second phase of this corridor. It is a part of the 495 kilometer long Laguuat to Ermenia corridor, responsible for the transportation of southern mining.

Four financial conglomerates compete on the same stage

Bidding is not easy. In addition to the CCECC consortium, there are also local Algerian companies and two other Chinese counterparts competing on the same stage. Mature experience in desert railway construction, complete plans, and performance records enabled the Chinese team to ultimately break through. Keywords: Algerian Railway,CCECC

Steel rails are laid to the south

After the line is connected, the ore in the southern mining area can be transported out at a lower cost, and the villages and towns along the line are more closely connected. The construction period will also bring a large number of local positions and cultivate a group of engineering and technical personnel. The Algerian side also hopes to learn from the desert construction experience of the Besar to Galajebilet mining railway and gradually extend this channel southward. For CCECC, this order is more like a ticket to deeply cultivate the local market.

From the preparation for construction to the opening of tracks, this North African steel corridor not only carries freight volume, but also the long-term trust of China and Algeria for mutual benefit, leaving a new sample for the African infrastructure market.Editor/Min Jing