Posted on 29 Jan 2026
The first shipment of iron ore from the Gara Djebilet mine in Tindouf, Algeria was transported late on Tuesday to Béchar province for initial processing, before onward delivery to the Tosyali complex in Bethioua, Oran province. The 1,450-tonne cargo is expected to arrive in Oran on Thursday, Kallanish notes from local media reports.
The shipment marks the effective start of mining operations and the transformation of iron ore into finished products, strengthening Algeria’s iron and steel value chain, Algerian interior minister Saïd Sayoud is quoted as saying.
The loading ceremony was attended by public works and basic infrastructure minister Abdelkader Djellaoui, secretary of state for mines Karima Bakir Tafer, as well as local authorities and representatives of state-owned companies involved in developing the deposit.
Ahead of the official launch at the Tindouf site, the ministerial delegation inaugurated the passenger railway station at Gara Djebilet, with a similar opening planned in Tindouf town to mark the start of passenger services to Béchar.
Mining officials estimate the Gara Djebilet deposit holds around 3.5 billion tonnes of iron ore, including nearly 1.7 billion tonnes of commercially exploitable reserves.
Spanning more than 40,000 hectares, the project is seen as a cornerstone for the national economy, supporting job creation and local development in Tindouf and neighbouring regions.
Source:Kallanish
