Chinese and Arab builders took a group photo at the construction site.
Photo by Liu Zhi. 
Project subgrade fill construction site.
Photo by Wang Lixu. In Algeria, a team of engineers, managers and skilled workers from China Railway Construction Corporation is accelerating the construction of a railway mining line project in the western part of the country. With a total length of 575 kilometers, the Western Railway Mining Line is an important project of the Belt and Road Initiative between China and Algeria, and it is also the largest single project undertaken by a Chinese enterprise in Algeria in recent years. After completion, the Western Railway Mining Line will connect Algeria's mining areas, industrial areas and ports, which is of great significance for improving Algeria's national railway network and promoting economic and social development.
"It will strongly promote the interconnection of southwestern provinces".
In the Gobi Desert in the southwestern part of Algeria's Tindouf province, there is an office station for the Western Railway Mining Line Project. When the reporter arrived here, vehicles came and went at the door, and the ** bell rang from time to time in the office. Some of the project engineers are in the first technical plan, some are negotiating to solve on-site construction problems, and some are deploying personnel and materials.
In December 2023, China Railway Construction and Algeria's State Railway Investment, Design and Implementation Supervision and Administration officially signed a contract for the Western Railway Mining Line Project. The line connects the Dumia ** district in the province of Beshar and the iron ore area of Gala Jebilet in the province of Tindouf with a total of 40 stations and will be a modern railway with standard gauge.
As a supporting facility in the Gala Jebilette iron ore mining area, the Western Railway Mining Line will be freight forward-oriented, with an estimated annual transport capacity of 40 million to 50 million tons, which will strongly promote Algerian iron ore exports.
Dong Lin, the project leader, travels between the project office and the construction site every day. The contract period of the Western Railway Mining Line Project is only 30 months, which is now a critical period after the project has fully started construction. "The tight deadline made us feel stressed. Dong Lin said that the working principle of the project team is to race against time.
The Western Railway Mining Line Project will effectively promote the interconnection of southwestern provinces and is of great significance to the development of the country. Ismael Debeche, president of the Algerian-Chinese Friendship Association, said in an interview with this reporter that "the cooperation between Argentina and China in the construction of railways not only solves the transportation problem, but also contributes to the revitalization and sustainable development of Algeria's industry." The project demonstrates the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with the vision of a 'new Algeria'. ”
"This railway carries the hope of connecting the hometown to the port".
The Western Railway Mining Line project is located on the western side of the Sahara Desert. There is little rainfall, strong sunshine, almost no vegetation on the surface, and the maximum temperature can reach 55 degrees Celsius in summer, and the temperature difference between day and night in winter is large, which brings a lot of challenges to the construction. From the earthwork excavation site back to the project site, the wipers of the car in which the reporter was riding kept brushing off the dust from the glass along the way. According to reports, it has not rained here for 3 years.
Dong Lin said that many Chinese employees of the project department have participated in the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and the Taklamakan Desert Railway, and their spirit of challenging the limits has been reflected again in the Sahara Desert.
The large area of quicksand in the desert has brought great challenges to the construction of the line. Li Bin, the person in charge of the project design, said that the geomorphological features of the gravel desert area and sand dune area along the railway line are similar to those of the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang. Relying on the experience accumulated by China Railway Construction in the construction of desert railways, the project team adopted a comprehensive prevention and control system combining sand blocking and sand fixation to provide guarantee for railway construction.
I believe that in the near future, trains loaded with iron ore will be transported through the vast sands to the ports of the Mediterranean. The 38-year-old Abdullah used to work as a security guard at China Railway Construction, but later actively studied Chinese and gradually moved into management positions. "When I heard about the start of the desert railway project in my hometown, I immediately applied to the company to work on the project. "This railway carries the hope of connecting the hometown to the port".Together, the builders of the two countries will create miracles in the desert region. ”
"Contribute to deepening China-Arab friendship and practical cooperation".
There is a seven-hour time difference between the province of Tindouf and Beijing, where the project is located, and Chinese employees often only have time to take out their mobile phones to talk to their families** when they are commuting at noon.
This year is Dong Lin's 15th year of working overseas. During the reporter's interview, he received a *** from his wife, and he carefully inquired about the situation at home. For him, hard work is nothing, and the hardest thing is to be away from his country and family for many years. However, he said: "It is worth the hard work to build the project well and make it contribute to deepening Sino-Arab friendship and practical cooperation." ”
During the Spring Festival this year, the project team prepared a lot of food for the employees, so that everyone could feel the warmth of home. During the construction period, the project department also organized Chinese and Arab employees to paste Spring Festival couplets, hang lanterns, make dumplings, and enjoy Algerian folk songs and dances at the Spring Festival Gala.
The Western Railway Mining Line Project is of great significance for the sustainable development of Algeria. Algerian industrial investment expert Mohamed Sayoud said that China is an important friend and partner of Algeria, and Algeria is willing to deepen cooperation under the vision of "New Algeria" and the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. "Algeria is one of the staunchest supporters of the Belt and Road Initiative and an important partner. In recent years, Chinese enterprises have actively participated in the construction of Algerian roads and ports. Welcome more Chinese enterprises to Algeria and contribute to Algeria's industrial development. ”
Algiers, 21 February).