Final Arrangements Made for Laghouat–Tamanrasset Railway
Minister of Public Works and Basic Infrastructure Abdelkader Djelloui chaired a coordination meeting at the ministry headquarters on 20 October 2026. The meeting aimed to finalize arrangements for commencing work on the extensive Laghouat–El Menia–In Salah–Tamanrasset railway project. This gathering follows direct instructions issued by the President during a Council of Ministers meeting on 18 October 2026, which called for the immediate launch of the project, starting from Tamanrasset.
The meeting brought together various key stakeholders, including central ministry staff, officials from construction companies, and design offices. Attendees included representatives from ANESRIF, Infra Rail, Cosider, SNTP, Infrafer, and the Chinese companies CRCC and CCECC. Participants conducted a comprehensive assessment of the project's readiness and coordinated efforts among all involved parties. Discussions covered the progress of preparations across several crucial sections, specifically Laghouat–Ghardaïa (265 km), Ghardaïa–El Menia (230 km), El Menia–Kilometer Point 216, and Tamanrasset–Moulay Lahcen (213 km). The assessment also included the readiness of worksites and the allocation of necessary material and human resources, alongside measures to address potential field obstacles.
Minister Djelloui emphasized the urgent need to accelerate the completion of final arrangements and intensify follow-up activities. He stressed the importance of mobilizing all necessary resources and ensuring the complete readiness of the concerned institutions to enable work to begin on the ground at the earliest possible opportunity. This directive underscores the commitment to expediting this significant infrastructure development. (Reporting by Omar Tadrist.)
