Gara-Djebilet–Tindouf–Béchar Railway: Algeria Completes Africa’s Largest Railway Viaduct, Paving the Way for a New Industrial Era
✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers – November 2025 – Algeria has achieved a historic milestone in its ambitious infrastructure and industrial modernization program with the completion of Africa’s largest railway viaduct, a monumental structure stretching 4.1 kilometers. This engineering achievement marks a decisive step forward in the realization of the South-West Mining Railway Line, a strategic national project whose commissioning is expected at the beginning of 2026.
The early completion of this colossal structure — ahead of schedule — represents a major leap in Algeria’s efforts to connect one of the world’s largest iron ore deposits, located in Gara Djebilet, with the industrial transformation zones where iron processing activities will soon be concentrated. Several processing units are slated for completion within the same timeline, underscoring the synchronized national effort to operationalize the country’s mining potential.
According to the National Agency for Studies and Monitoring of Railway Investment Projects (Anesrif), which oversees what is widely referred to as “the project of the century,” the final beam of the viaduct was installed last Thursday — well before the official deadline set by the authorities. Anesrif described the railway as “the new artery of Algeria’s economic development,” highlighting its central role in transforming the mining and logistics landscape of the nation.
The viaduct, part of the 440-kilometer segment linking Hammaguir to El Assel, stands as the most complex and technically demanding section of the South-West railway project. Construction of this portion has been spearheaded by Algeria’s Cosider Group and China’s CRCC, whose teams continue the track-laying operations at an impressive rate of three kilometers per day. This pace, combined with the completion of the viaduct, signals the final phase of works on a project that is both strategically vital and economically transformative for Algeria.
Other sections of the line are also advancing rapidly, particularly the Oum El Assel–Tindouf segment, spanning 175 kilometers, which has now entered the rail-laying stage. To expedite this process, Anesrif confirmed that the executing companies are employing automated welding technology, a modern technique that dramatically reduces welding time and accelerates rail installation. The automated unit welds 16 rails totaling 288 meters, with a daily production capacity of 1,620 linear meters. Upon completing each 16-kilometer section, the unit is relocated to another segment to ensure continuous progress and efficient material supply across the project.
Once operational, the Gara Djebilet–Tindouf–Béchar mining railway will stand as the backbone of Algeria’s industrial future, marking the beginning of a new era for the national mining industry — a sector of immense strategic and economic value. The project’s completion reflects the unwavering commitment of Algeria’s leadership to accelerate the diversification of the national economy and secure its transition toward industrial self-reliance.
Beyond its significance in exploiting one of the world’s largest iron ore deposits, the new railway is expected to have a profound developmental impact on the broader south-western region. By facilitating logistics and infrastructure expansion, it will also bolster agricultural growth, particularly in major integrated projects dedicated to achieving food self-sufficiency in essential products such as milk and wheat — pillars of Algeria’s national food security strategy.
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