Algeria and China sign $3.3 billion port deal

Algeria’s national group of port services and two Chinese firms have signed a loan agreement worth $3.3 billion dollars for the construction of a commercial port at El Hamdania in the Cherchell region, west of Algiers.

The port will be constructed by an Algerian consortium, the China State Construction Corporation and the China Harbour engineering company.

The various companies involved in the project will handle preliminary studies, construction, operation and infrastructure management.

Construction is expected to end by 2023, before the operational phase to be handled by Shanghai ports.

The El Hamdania port will connect to other African countries, south east Asia and the Americas. It is expected to be a hub for regional trade.

The port will be connected to roads and railways and will be able to handle 6.5 million 20-foot containers and 26 million tons of goods per year.

The new port which covers an area of about 2000 hectares is expected to boost Algeria’s port traffic.