Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, during the Council of Ministers meeting he presided over on Sunday, ordered the launch of the exploitation of iron ore extracted from the Gara Djebilet mine starting in the first quarter of 2026. The presidency’s statement said this milestone will embody Algeria’s new policy emphasizing economic sovereignty and the diversification of resources beyond hydrocarbons.
After reviewing a briefing on the progress of the Gara Djebilet mine and the Tindouf-Béchar mining railway line, President Tebboune instructed the commencement of local use and exploitation of the iron ore from Gara Djebilet. According to the Council of Ministers’ statement, he highlighted that this event, the first of its kind in Algeria’s post-independence history, sends a strong message about the country’s commitment to economic sovereignty and resource diversification.
The president also issued firm instructions to intensify efforts to complete this strategic project in all its sections and structures. The Council of Ministers approved the creation of new iron ore processing plants in Tindouf, Béchar, and Naâma.
President Tebboune ordered that “the first shipment of iron ore be transported via the railway line to the Tosyali steel complex in Oran starting in 2026.” He added, “Algeria will thus take its first step toward reducing iron ore import costs and progressively achieving self-sufficiency.”
Furthermore, the president tasked the Minister of Public Works with preparing the inauguration of the new railway line, spanning the desert and connecting Tindouf to Béchar, to be fully operational by January 2026. He emphasized that this event should be celebrated as a national milestone, marking Algeria’s entry into a new era of significant economic achievements by its people on the path of national development.
