Algeria opens 600-mile railway to develop major iron ore deposit

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Algeria has opened a nearly 950-kilometer (590-mile) railway built with Chinese partners, clearing the way for long-delayed development of one of Africa’s largest iron ore deposits as the country looks to reduce its reliance on oil and gas. 

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune inaugurated the line on Sunday, calling it a key step toward turning the vast Gara Djebilet deposit in the western Sahara into a steady source of export revenue. The project, discussed for decades, is now set to send its first shipments of iron ore from a remote desert site near the Moroccan border.

Linking mine to market 

The railway connects the Gara Djebilet mine to the southern cities of Tindouf and Bechar. From there, ore can move along existing tracks to the Mediterranean coast and the port city of Oran, home to a major steel complex operated by Turkey’s Tosyali Holding. 

Construction was led by Algerian state firms alongside China Rail Construction Corp., underscoring the close ties between Algiers and Beijing on large infrastructure and mining projects. Feraal, a unit of state miner Sonarem, and China’s Sinosteel are among the companies involved in developing the mine and related facilities. 

Officials say the line is designed to handle heavy freight and operate in harsh desert conditions, a long-standing challenge that slowed earlier efforts to tap the deposit.

Cutting dependence on oil and gas 

The opening ceremony, broadcast live on state television, comes as Algeria steps up efforts to expand mining, manufacturing and other industries beyond hydrocarbons. Oil and gas typically account for more than three-quarters of exports and around half of state revenue, leaving public finances exposed to swings in global energy prices. 

By contrast, the Gara Djebilet project is expected to support steel production, create jobs in southern regions and generate foreign exchange over the long term. Authorities have said the mine holds billions of tons of iron ore, though bringing it to market required major investments in transport, processing and water supply. 

Government officials say the railway is not only about iron ore but also about opening up remote areas, improving logistics and encouraging private investment. For Algeria, the line marks a practical step toward building a broader economic base—one train, and one shipment, at a time.