Madar (Algiers) - The governor of El Menea inspected on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the launch site of works on the railway linking Algiers to Tamanrasset in the far south, along with its logistics base, ahead of the start of construction, according to a statement by the province reported on Wednesday, October 28, by news site TSA.
The line will be 2,036 kilometres long in total. According to the same source, the 2027 finance bill earmarks 1,910 billion dinars ($14.6 billion) for the project, including 360 billion dinars notified on the state budget and 321.6 billion dinars ($2.45 billion) in external financing from the African Development Bank.
The section between the capital and Laghouat, just over 300 kilometres long, has already been built. According to Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Abdelkader Djellaoui, works on 924 kilometres are about to begin, and tenders have been launched for 651 kilometres.
A meeting held last week at the ministry discussed preparations for the Laghouat-Ghardaia (265 km), Ghardaia-El Menea (230 km), El Menea-PK 216 and Tamanrasset-Moulay Lahcen (213 km) sections. The governor stressed completing preparations on schedule and close coordination among all those involved.
Several Algerian companies and the Chinese groups CRCC and CCECC are involved in the project. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune reiterated on October 14 that the train would reach Tamanrasset by the end of 2028, the same source said.
