Construction has recently commenced on a groundbreaking railway spanning 575 kilometers through the Sahara Desert. Led by a collaboration between China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) and Cosider Travaux Publics, this transformative project aims to link various regional provinces.
(Photo : Pexels/abdullah çadırcı )
Construction of Railway Across Sahara Desert Project
Amidst the sweltering Algerian heat, Chinese laborers have been constructing a 575-kilometer-long (357-mile-long) rail line that would link the national rail network to one of the largest iron ore mines in the world. As part of the preparations for laying track, employees of the CRCC, which is owned by the state, have started excavating the stony and dusty path between the Gara Djebilet iron ore mine in the south-west province of Tindouf in Algeria and Bechar, which is located on the country's border with Morocco. It is planned to have 40 stations along the route, improving transportation ties within the province.
In July 2022, Gara Djebilet launched its operations. It is believed to possess one of the most significant quantities of high-grade ore globally. Initial production is anticipated to reach up to 3 million tonnes annually, with the capacity increasing to 50 million tonnes by 2026. As part of the agreement, China has also committed to extracting the ore and constructing facilities for conducting research, enrichment, and dephosphorization experiments.
Currently, most of China's ore imports come from Australia, with 79%, and Brazil, with 19%. Geographical hazards are significant, especially considering Beijing's strained diplomatic and economic relations with Australia, given that it accounts for 52% of global steel production, or 1 billion tonnes.
As a result, Algiers is hopeful that extracting its mineral wealth will lessen its reliance on its oil and gas industries, which currently account for 19% of the country's gross domestic product and 93% of its earnings from exports. Commencing from Algeria's independence struggle against the French in the 1950s and 1960s, the undertaking will reportedly foster a more profound Sino-Algerian relationship. The two nations signed 19 cooperation agreements totaling $36 billion the previous year, including around 6,000 km of railways.
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Sino-Algerian Relationship
The global community is committed to achieving more significant growth, regardless of the course of action or the political vision that may be required. This endeavor takes into account the importance of respecting ethics, the environment, and the distinctive qualities of each nation or civilization. Thus, China continues to serve as an essential model to emulate in this domain, specifically for developing countries such as Algeria.
Algeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. Ramtane Lamamra, stated, following an appointment with his Chinese colleague in late September in New York, that the United Nations has evolved into a space where nations can place their aspirations for a brighter future characterized by justice, peace, and equality.
The significant changes that have taken place around the world raise the question of future relations between Algeria and China. Algeria and China concur that a revitalized multilateralism grounded in the objectives and principles outlined in the United Nations Charter is necessary to prevent a polarized global landscape where specific cultural and social frameworks are imposed on others.
They are increasing multilateralism by prioritizing concepts such as the equality of states, mutual respect, non-intervention in domestic matters, and respect for sovereignty, among other things. The principles that unite these two nations are deeply ingrained in their respective histories, shaped by previous foreign oppression.
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