Algeria Deepens Strategic Cooperation with China: Trans-Saharan Railway and Satellite Project Drive Economic Diversification

Algeria - Ekhbary News Agency

Algeria Deepens Strategic Cooperation with China: Trans-Saharan Railway and Satellite Project Drive Economic Diversification

Algeria, a pivotal nation in North Africa, is transforming its national economic landscape through extensive cooperation with China. Recently, Algeria successfully completed a large-scale railway construction project traversing the Sahara Desert and, concurrently, launched advanced communication satellites into orbit, significantly strengthening its strategic partnership with Beijing. This development reflects Algeria's strong resolve to diversify its industrial structure, moving away from its long-standing reliance on the oil and gas sector, and to secure future growth engines.

On February 1, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune personally attended the inauguration ceremony of the 950-kilometer railway, connecting Gara Djebilet, one of the world's largest iron ore regions in southern Algeria, with the industrial city of Béchar in the north. President Tebboune underscored the immense importance of this project, calling it "one of the most significant projects since Algeria's independence," expressing profound hopes for national development. Gara Djebilet is estimated to hold vast iron ore reserves of approximately 3.5 billion tons, making it one of the largest mines globally. However, due to its location deep within the Sahara Desert, accessibility has been extremely low, hindering development. The construction of this railway aims to overcome these geographical challenges, operating 24 iron ore trains daily to efficiently transport resources from the southern mines to the northern industrial areas.

This ambitious project was executed through a joint venture between the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) and local Algerian companies. China's "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI) has seen it expand its influence across the African continent through infrastructure investments, and the Algerian project is poised to be recorded as a successful case. This railway network is more than just a logistical means; it is expected to strengthen Algeria's industrial base, create new jobs, and revitalize the economy of the Sahara region. Furthermore, through the inauguration of this railway, Algeria moves a step closer to its long-term goal of diversifying its economy away from an oil and gas-centric structure by expanding iron ore exports and fostering its domestic steel industry.

In addition to the railway project, Algeria has also achieved significant milestones in space technology through its cooperation with China. On January 31, Algeria's latest communication satellite, 'Alsat-3B,' was successfully launched aboard China's Long March-2C rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China. This launch followed just 15 days after 'Alsat-3A' was launched on January 15, demonstrating the rapid progress of Algeria's space program. These satellites are expected to play a pivotal role in improving Algeria's communication infrastructure, land monitoring, resource exploration, and weather observation, among various other fields. Securing satellite technology is considered a strategic asset that will significantly contribute to accelerating Algeria's digital transformation and enhancing its national security.

China's strategy for engaging with Africa extends beyond mere economic interests. By addressing infrastructure deficiencies and facilitating technology transfer in African nations, China is building long-term partnerships and expanding its global influence. Algeria possesses the second-largest territory in Africa and holds significant geopolitical importance, connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Sahara Desert. Therefore, cooperation with Algeria serves as a bridgehead for China to enter the North African and West African markets. Concurrently, Algeria gains an opportunity to accelerate its national modernization by leveraging Chinese capital and technology, and to pursue diplomatic diversification away from Western-centric international relations.

These railway and satellite projects symbolize the large-scale infrastructure and advanced technology initiatives that Algeria is pursuing, more than 60 years after its independence, by mobilizing its national capabilities. This clearly demonstrates Algeria's search for a new model for sustainable economic growth and will serve as an important example of how developing nations can secure strategic autonomy and forge their future through cooperation with China. It is anticipated that the cooperative relationship between the two countries will deepen further, which is expected to have a considerable impact on the geopolitical balance in the North African region.

Ekhbary News Agency