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China-Backed Project Delivers Africa’s First Heavy-Haul Desert Railway

Algeria has completed the Western Mining Railway, delivering Africa’s first heavy-haul railway built entirely across desert terrain and marking a major milestone in the continent’s infrastructure development. According to China’s Xinhua news agency, the 575 kilometer rail line was constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation in partnership with Algerian state-owned firms as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The project was executed over more than two years under extreme Sahara Desert conditions, with construction teams laying over 580 kilometres of track and producing more than 1.1 million concrete sleepers. Xinhua reported that engineers deployed customised technical solutions to meet Algerian rail standards, including track systems designed to support freight trains with axle loads of up to 32.5 tonnes, a key requirement for heavy mineral transport.

The railway is expected to connect mineral rich regions in southwestern Algeria with industrial zones and export terminals, significantly lowering logistics costs and improving supply chain efficiency. Business Insider Africa noted that the line is positioned to unlock large scale mining exports while strengthening Algeria’s broader industrial and trade ambitions.

Analysts say the Western Mining Railway could become a reference model for future heavy-haul rail projects across Africa, particularly in remote and arid regions where critical mineral deposits are far from ports. The project underscores how large-scale China Africa infrastructure partnerships are reshaping transport networks to support economic diversification and long-term growth.

Image Source: africa.businessinsider.com

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