Algiers – Algeria and China on Monday in Algiers signed a 3.3 billion dollar deal to build and exploit the new centre trans-shipment port of Cherchell.
The signatories to the agreement are Algeria’s Transport Ministry, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC).
Boudjemaa Talai, Algerian Transport Minister, said under the deal, the parties would create a consortium company to build the port, some 60 km west of the capital Algiers.
He said the creation of the company was expected to be finalised in March 2016.
The minister said that the port would have 23 docks, capable of processing 6.5 million 20-foot containers and 26 million tonnes of goods per year.
Talai said the port traffic in the country’s central region was expected to hit 35 million tonness or two million 20-foot containers per year by 2050.
“The project is planned to be completed within seven years and gradually put into service within four years, with China’s Shanghai Ports Group ensuring its management.
“Bringing in Shanghai Port Group would help drive international shipment traffic coming from the Southeast Asia and other continents to pass from this Centre Port under trans-shipment process.
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“It will continue sea transport to elsewhere, or use the Algerian highway and railway networks to carry shipments to Africa,’’ he said.
Wen Jingfei, CHEC representative at the signing ceremony, said the project was important not only for Algeria but for the whole Mediterranean region and Africa.
He said the Algerian government had wanted to build this mega Central Harbour for many years, and it has positioned it as a transit port at the Mediterranean area that would l provide service to North Africa and Europe.
Jingfei said Algeria’s landlocked neighbours such as Mali also need a port like this.
Zhou Sheng, the CSCEC representative said the agreement would be a milestone in the history of Algeria, a country that was facing a rare difficult period due to the slumping.
He said the Algerian government selected Chinese companies to build the project because of the traditional friendship between the two nations and strong bilateral relationship in political, economic and cultural fields. (Xinhua/NAN)