01 May 2012
The Algerian government will spend a budget of DZD 6,500 billion (USD 87 billion) on roads, ports and airports projects by 2014, officials at the ministry of public works said, as part of the five-year development plan for 2009-2014.
The government's aim is to complete the Algeria East-West Highway Project, to complete the 1,300 km cross-desert road at a cost of more than USD 100 million, in addition to the side highway of the upper hills along 700 km, and to deliver all these projects before the end of 2014.
This is in addition to the completion of 14 new airports to enhance the capacity of local and international airports as well as the completion of four ports for maritime transport and another for fishing, and allocating funds for the rehabilitation of ports and renovation of docks.
Omar Oukil, the media advisor to the ministry of public works, confirmed that more than DZD 3,100 billion will be allocated for the east-west highway network, 96% of which has been completed. He added that the main road will be linked to 830 km of secondary and inter-provincial roads, along with the completion of the national dual roads works along 700 km.
In the next three years, the ministry will build more than 2,500 km of new roads and rehabilitate around 8,000 km of available roads; complete and renovate 20 fishing ports; enhance a number of airports and build 14 new airports. This includes two ports in Algiers and Tenes, in the western Chlef province, to reduce pressure on the capital's port managed by Dubai Ports World.
Oukil said the ministry has prepared a long-term plan till 2025 to develop road infrastructure over a total distance of 112,696 km. The program is divided into three phases. In the first phase, from 2010 to 2015, the ministry will complete the side highway of the upper hills along 700 km, and to adapt the existing network. It is also working on completing the cross-desert road along 1,300 km in partnership with the State of Niger, the internal north-south highways linking the coastal roads, as well as linking nine ports to the East-West Highway.
The second phase, from 2015 to 2020, will see the rehabilitation of the existing road network. The last phase, from 2020 to 2025, will consist of conducting an evaluation study of the completed projects and drawing future plans.
Algerian road network planned
Source: Algerian Ministry of Public Works
Existing airports including the Houari Boumediene International in the capital and the airports at Oran, Jijel, Touggourt, Tebessa, Mostaganem and Bejaia will be upgraded this year, as will the airports of Guelma, Setif, Illizi, Mostaganem and Relizane. In addition, 14 new airports will be built during 2014 at Tamanrasset in southern Algeria, Msila, Adrar, Timimoun, Bechar, Tebessa, Tiaret, Algeria, Jijel, Annaba, Oran, Ouargla, Illizi and Ain Amenas, bringing the number of airports in Algeria in 2014 to around 70.
Mouloud Kheloufi, president of the General Association of Algerian Entrepreneurs, said the number of ports available in Algeria is not sufficient to meet market demands, especially after the 2009 decision to privatize ports, which caused several economic crises for suppliers. "It is unreasonable for a country like Algeria, with a coastal strip of more than 1,200 km, to not invest in this area and keep its coastline commercially unexploited," Kheloufi said.
Zawya 2012
The Algerian government will spend a budget of DZD 6,500 billion (USD 87 billion) on roads, ports and airports projects by 2014, officials at the ministry of public works said, as part of the five-year development plan for 2009-2014.
The government's aim is to complete the Algeria East-West Highway Project, to complete the 1,300 km cross-desert road at a cost of more than USD 100 million, in addition to the side highway of the upper hills along 700 km, and to deliver all these projects before the end of 2014.
This is in addition to the completion of 14 new airports to enhance the capacity of local and international airports as well as the completion of four ports for maritime transport and another for fishing, and allocating funds for the rehabilitation of ports and renovation of docks.
Omar Oukil, the media advisor to the ministry of public works, confirmed that more than DZD 3,100 billion will be allocated for the east-west highway network, 96% of which has been completed. He added that the main road will be linked to 830 km of secondary and inter-provincial roads, along with the completion of the national dual roads works along 700 km.
In the next three years, the ministry will build more than 2,500 km of new roads and rehabilitate around 8,000 km of available roads; complete and renovate 20 fishing ports; enhance a number of airports and build 14 new airports. This includes two ports in Algiers and Tenes, in the western Chlef province, to reduce pressure on the capital's port managed by Dubai Ports World.
Oukil said the ministry has prepared a long-term plan till 2025 to develop road infrastructure over a total distance of 112,696 km. The program is divided into three phases. In the first phase, from 2010 to 2015, the ministry will complete the side highway of the upper hills along 700 km, and to adapt the existing network. It is also working on completing the cross-desert road along 1,300 km in partnership with the State of Niger, the internal north-south highways linking the coastal roads, as well as linking nine ports to the East-West Highway.
The second phase, from 2015 to 2020, will see the rehabilitation of the existing road network. The last phase, from 2020 to 2025, will consist of conducting an evaluation study of the completed projects and drawing future plans.
Algerian road network planned
| Nature of Roads | Distance |
| National roads | 29,280 km |
| Inter-provincial roads | 23,771 km |
| Inter-administrative districts roads | 59,649 km |
| Technical facilities | 4,910 facilities |
Source: Algerian Ministry of Public Works
Existing airports including the Houari Boumediene International in the capital and the airports at Oran, Jijel, Touggourt, Tebessa, Mostaganem and Bejaia will be upgraded this year, as will the airports of Guelma, Setif, Illizi, Mostaganem and Relizane. In addition, 14 new airports will be built during 2014 at Tamanrasset in southern Algeria, Msila, Adrar, Timimoun, Bechar, Tebessa, Tiaret, Algeria, Jijel, Annaba, Oran, Ouargla, Illizi and Ain Amenas, bringing the number of airports in Algeria in 2014 to around 70.
Mouloud Kheloufi, president of the General Association of Algerian Entrepreneurs, said the number of ports available in Algeria is not sufficient to meet market demands, especially after the 2009 decision to privatize ports, which caused several economic crises for suppliers. "It is unreasonable for a country like Algeria, with a coastal strip of more than 1,200 km, to not invest in this area and keep its coastline commercially unexploited," Kheloufi said.
Zawya 2012
