Algerian Government Advances Strategic Rail, Pharmaceutical and Water Infrastructure Projects
BY Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS, June 17 — The Algerian government on Wednesday reviewed a series of strategic infrastructure and public service projects spanning rail transport, pharmaceutical regulation and drinking water supply, underscoring its focus on long-term economic development and essential services.
Meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb, the government examined several priority files concerning sectors considered critical to the country’s development agenda, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
At the centre of discussions was a draft declaration of public utility related to the construction of key sections of the planned Algiers–Tamanrasset railway line, one of Algeria’s most ambitious transport infrastructure projects.
The initiative covers the El Meniaâ–In Salah section, extending over 410 kilometres, and the In Salah–Tamanrasset section, spanning 676 kilometres. Together, they form part of a broader railway corridor exceeding 2,400 kilometres, designed to establish a major north-south transport axis linking Algeria’s Mediterranean coast with the country’s deep south.
According to the government statement, the project is expected to significantly enhance rail connectivity across the High Plateaus and southern regions by creating a transport network capable of facilitating the movement of passengers and goods across vast areas that remain insufficiently served by heavy transport infrastructure.
Officials stressed that the project goes beyond the construction of a railway line, describing it as a strategic tool for regional development, territorial integration and the gradual reduction of geographic disparities. The railway is also expected to support economic activity in remote regions where improved mobility remains essential for local development.
By designating the project as one of public utility, the government signalled its intention to accelerate implementation of what is considered one of the country’s most significant transport infrastructure programmes.
The government also examined a draft executive decree establishing new conditions and procedures governing the prescription and dispensing of pharmaceutical products intended for human use.
The proposed regulation aims to define the professional framework applicable to healthcare practitioners operating in both public and private medical institutions, with the objective of ensuring the rational, safe and compliant use of medicines in line with national public health requirements.
According to the statement, the initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Algeria’s pharmaceutical system and modernise medical practices amid evolving healthcare needs, an expanding range of available treatments and emerging risks associated with misuse, counterfeiting and the diversion of sensitive substances.
The new regulatory framework seeks to improve oversight throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain, from prescription to dispensing, with the aim of enhancing coherence, reducing non-compliant practices and adapting existing regulations to increasingly complex treatment protocols.
The government said the reform carries significant health, organisational and preventive dimensions, given its direct impact on patient safety and the quality of medical care.
Separately, ministers reviewed progress on several drinking water projects, including downstream connection works linked to the West Algiers seawater desalination plant in Fouka and a water supply project intended to serve the locality of Tin Zaouatine in In Guezzam province through the Tanezrouft water field.
The government statement emphasised that these projects reflect the priority accorded to water security, noting that infrastructure delivery and network integration remain essential to improving water access for local populations.
Officials highlighted the ongoing technical and operational monitoring of both projects to ensure the gradual commissioning of facilities and their effective integration into the national water supply system.
The Fouka desalination project was presented as a key component of efforts to strengthen water supply capacities in coastal regions, while the Tin Zaouatine initiative illustrates the government’s focus on addressing the specific needs of remote communities in Algeria’s far south.
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