Algiers – A high-level inter-ministerial meeting convened at the Ministry of Energy and Mines to advance the operationalization of the Gara Djebilet iron ore mine and its associated railway line. The meeting, held Wednesday evening, focused on implementing directives from the President regarding the commencement of local iron ore exploitation at the Gara Djebilet mine, targeted for the first quarter of 2026, and the commissioning of the Bechar-Tindouf-Gara Djebilet mining railway line by January 2026.
The meeting was jointly chaired by the Minister of State and Minister of Energy and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, and the Minister of Public Works and Basic Infrastructure, Abdelkader Djellaoui. The Secretary of State in charge of Mines, Karima Bakir Tafer, also attended, along with representatives from the Ministry of Interior, Local Authorities, and Transport, as well as directors-general of implementation and exploitation entities, and representatives from relevant project stakeholders.
Discussions centered on coordinating efforts across the three ministerial sectors concerning the technical and operational aspects of iron ore extraction and processing at Gara Djebilet. Crucially, the progress of accompanying infrastructure projects, notably the 950 km mining railway line, was reviewed, recognizing its pivotal role in establishing the project’s industrial value chain.
The meeting also addressed practical measures to implement presidential instructions, emphasizing the start of local ore exploitation by early 2026 and the delivery of the western mining line, in all its sections, by January 2026. This project is considered one of the most significant economic initiatives since independence, poised to bolster national industry by securing raw material supply for the iron and steel sector, strengthening industrial sovereignty, and diversifying the national economy away from hydrocarbons.
The creation of new iron ore processing plants in the Tindouf, Bechar, and Naama provinces was also discussed, aiming to build an integrated industrial chain encompassing extraction, processing, conversion, and transportation to national iron and steel complexes, particularly the Tosyali complex in Oran, which is scheduled to receive initial shipments starting in 2026.
Participants underscored the strategic importance of the Gara Djebilet mine and the ongoing railway construction, recognizing them as pivotal projects representing a historic turning point in the nation’s development due to their direct impact on the economy and social development.
