ALGIERS – Sunday, 06 August 2023 (APS) – President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, said that strengthening rail transport was the “best guarantee of development” in the country, particularly for southern regions, adding that Algeria will launch, with Chinese partners , a programme to build railway lines over a distance of around 6,000 km.
During his regular interview with representatives of the national media, broadcast on national television and radio stations on Saturday evening, the President of the Republic said that “strengthening the railway sector is the best guarantee of development”, stressing that “our Chinese friends have agreed to this project, which will cover a distance of around 6,000 km.”
“We will examine the studies together before launching the works,” said the adding that “the railway line that will reach Tamanrasset will facilitate the exploitation of mines, promote trade and create an economic dynamic for the benefit of the citizens.”
As part of this programme, “absolute priority” will be given to projects for transporting phosphate to the port of Annaba over a distance of 280 km, and to the project for a line linking the Gara Djebilet mine to Bechar over a distance of more than 800 km for transporting iron ore, President Tebboune added, stressing the importance of rapid completion.
Among the projects to be carried out under this plan, the President of the Republic mentioned the connection of the town of Béchar to Adrar by a railway line covering a distance of around 600 km.
President Tebboune said that the advantages of rail transport included saving time, reducing environmental impact, being cheaper than road transport and opening up the regions through which the trains pass.