Algeria is preparing for the official commencement of iron ore exploitation from the Gara Djebilet mine, slated for early 2026. A high-level ministerial delegation recently conducted a working visit to Bechar province to assess the progress of preparations for this landmark event.
The delegation, acting on the instructions of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, included the Ministers of Interior, Local Authorities, and Transport; Public Works and Basic Infrastructure; Energy and Mines; Energy and Renewable Energies; and Tourism and Handicrafts. The Director General of National Security and the Director General of Civil Protection also participated, alongside local officials and infrastructure project specialists.
During the visit, the delegation inspected ongoing preparations at various sites, particularly focusing on the railway line section passing through the Bechar province capital. This inspection forms part of the official preparations for launching the strategic railway project connected to the Gara Djebilet mine.
President Tebboune previously announced his intention to visit Bechar to oversee a historic ceremony marking the arrival of iron ore extracted from Gara Djebilet via the Tindouf-Bechar railway line – a first since Algeria’s independence. The President made this announcement during a working visit to Constantine province last November.
This significant project, encompassing both the mine’s exploitation and the construction of a 950-kilometer railway line, is a cornerstone of Algeria’s national strategy to develop its mineral resources and diversify the economy away from hydrocarbons. President Tebboune emphasized that the railway line was completed in just a year and a half, with plans for a future line to transport phosphate to Annaba.
Furthermore, during a Council of Ministers meeting last month, President Tebboune ordered the commencement of local usage and exploitation of Gara Djebilet iron ore starting in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring the project’s importance in reinforcing Algeria’s economic sovereignty.
The Gara Djebilet mine is considered one of the world’s largest open-pit mines, with estimated reserves of around 3.5 billion tons of ore. The project included the construction of three major sections of the railway line between Bechar and Oran.
