Algeria just leveled up its infrastructure game with the grand opening of Africa’s first heavy-haul desert railway this week! 🏜️ The Western Mining Railway, a 950-km marvel co-built by China Railway Construction Corporation and Algerian partners, officially launched on February 1, 2026, after two years of grueling Sahara Desert construction.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune hailed the project at Sunday’s ceremony in Bechar province, calling it a game-changer for connecting remote mining areas and boosting economic growth. 💼 With capacity to move 50 million tonnes of iron ore annually, this railway is like a metallic lifeline for Algeria’s southwest.
Here’s the kicker: Chinese engineers battled 55°C heat, sandstorms, and zero phone signals to get it done. 🔥 Using next-gen tech like 3D laser scanners and the beastly CPG500 track-layer (which lays rails faster than TikTok trends go viral), crews smashed records by laying 4.5km of track in one day!
One Algerian supervisor raved: "The Chinese equipment handled the desert like a pro gamer—total precision, zero crashes." 🎮 Over 8,000 workers from both nations teamed up, proving cross-border collabs can literally move mountains… of sand.
Next stop? Smoother cargo flows, new jobs, and easier travel for locals. 🚂✨
