With the Western Mining Railway Line, Algeria is embarking on one of the most structuring infrastructure projects of its mining and industrial strategy. Stretching over 950 km, connecting Béchar to Gara Djebilet via Béni Abbès and Tindouf, this heavy railway line is designed to unlock one of Africa’s largest iron ore deposits and lay the foundations for a trans-Saharan mining corridor oriented toward Mauritania and West African markets.
Officially launched by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the project goes far beyond the servicing of a single mining site. It aims to fundamentally reshape the logistics, industrial, and commercial geography of southwestern Algeria.
A Railway Infrastructure Designed for Large-Scale Mining Freight
The Western Mining Railway Line is engineered to meet the constraints of heavy bulk transport, particularly for iron ore from Gara Djebilet, whose volumes require high-capacity, cost-efficient logistics solutions.
According to Youcef Ghazi, President of the Algerian–Mauritanian Business Council, the line provides faster and more competitive access to African markets via Tindouf, fundamentally altering the regional mining transport cost structure.
The shift of mineral bulk from road to rail represents a critical lever:
- a significant reduction in cost per transported tonne,
- improved reliability and regularity of shipments,
- greater security for mining supply chains,
- support for the gradual ramp-up of production.
For the Gara Djebilet project, this infrastructure is decisive. Without heavy rail, large-scale industrial exploitation would remain constrained.
Unlocking Gara Djebilet and Securing Industrial Outlets
Previously landlocked, the Gara Djebilet deposit is now being integrated into a mine–rail–industry–port system. The railway enables continuous evacuation of ore toward:
- northern steelmaking complexes,
- Algerian ports for export,
- and, in the medium term, a southern outlet toward Mauritania and West Africa.
This connectivity underpins Algeria’s strategy of industrial upgrading: supplying domestic steel production, reducing imports of raw materials, and positioning the country as a regional supplier of iron ore and semi-finished products.
A Structuring Impact on Southwestern Territories
Beyond mining operations, the railway project acts as a catalyst for regional development. The Béchar and Tindouf regions are expected to see the emergence of:
- specialized logistics hubs,
- mining and industrial service bases,
- direct and indirect job creation,
- an economic ecosystem linked to transport, maintenance, and processing.
The line thus serves as both an industrial asset and a territorial development tool.
A Mining Corridor Anchored to the Tindouf Free Trade Zone
The Western Mining Railway Line also forms the backbone of the future Tindouf Free Trade Zone, launched in February 2024 by the Algerian and Mauritanian presidents. Conceived as a transboundary mining, logistics, and trade hub, the zone aims to:
- facilitate cross-border mineral flows,
- accelerate the import of equipment and industrial inputs,
- foster local processing and value-added activities.
This ecosystem will be further strengthened by the Tindouf–Zouerate road, spanning more than 800 km, currently under construction. Together, rail and road are shaping a multimodal trans-Saharan corridor linking Algerian and Mauritanian mining basins to West African markets.
Heavy Rail Freight as a Lever for Regional Competitiveness
Operationally, the Western Mining Railway Line is expected to enable:
- large-scale transport of iron ore and industrial inputs,
- a sustained reduction in logistics costs,
- improved predictability of mining supply chains,
- new opportunities for regional mining trade with Mauritania and West Africa.
The proximity to the Mauritanian border positions Algeria as a future key player in regional mining flows, offering alternative routes for bulk exports and heavy equipment imports.
A Cornerstone of Algeria’s Mining Ambitions
With the Western Mining Railway Line, Algeria is laying the foundations for integrated, large-scale mining development with regional reach. Gara Djebilet is no longer an isolated deposit but a central node within a strategic corridor linking North Africa to West Africa.
In the medium term, the corridor’s performance will depend on railway capacity, loading facilities, interoperability with ports and steel plants, and the emergence of specialized logistics services. If the model delivers on its promises, this axis could reshape the geography of African mining trade.
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