Souk Ahras – Minister of Public Works and Basic Infrastructure, Abdelkader Djelloul, emphasized the necessity of accelerating the pace of construction on the eastern mining railway project, particularly the section traversing the Souk Ahras province. The Minister’s directive came during a site visit on Thursday.
While inspecting the construction site of Tunnel Exit No. 8 in Ouilène, spanning 2.5 km, the Minister acknowledged the progress achieved on the segment linking Bouchgouf (Guelma), Souk Ahras, and Drea, covering a distance of 121 km. However, he noted that the challenging terrain presents a significant technical hurdle, with the section including 10 tunnels and 42 bridges. This necessitates meticulous coordination and a carefully planned acceleration of works.
Minister Djelloul affirmed his commitment to monitoring the project’s progress and urged local authorities to remove any obstacles hindering its completion. He also requested the preparation of a detailed progress report.
The Minister also inspected Tunnel Exit No. 5, located at kilometer point 6, stretching 2.4 km in the “Talal” area of Souk Ahras. He instructed project managers to deploy all available material and human resources to expedite construction, ensuring adherence to contractual deadlines and quality standards.
Furthermore, Minister Djelloul announced that 174 km of the eastern mining railway, specifically the segment connecting Bled El Hadba in Bir El Ater (Tebessa) and Oued El Kebarit in Souk Ahras, is now ready for handover.
Concluding his visit to Souk Ahras, the Minister highlighted the railway’s importance, noting that the project includes the doubling, rehabilitation and modernization of the Annaba-Bouchgouf (Guelma)-Tebessa axis over 422 km. This initiative forms part of an integrated phosphate exploitation project, a strategic pillar for supporting the national economy. It will enhance the transportation of mineral resources, ensure supply chain fluidity, increase the competitiveness of Algerian products in global markets, and contribute to sustainable development across the involved provinces. This railway is crucial for Algeria’s economic diversification goals. The project is expected to significantly boost the mining sector.
