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The public works sector has been given spending priority over all
else in the government’s economic stimulus package,
resulting in some staggering infrastructure projects. |
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 t nearly
2.4 million km2, Algeria is the world’s 10th largest country and
the second in Africa. It borders seven countries and has over
1,200 km of coastline; its infrastructural demands are immense.
Following a territory development law passed in December 2001, an
integrated development scheme for 2020 has been laid out,
encompassing the construction of marine, air, and road
infrastructures. The scheme, being executed under the auspices of
the Ministry of Public Works, is the largest infrastructure
development plan yet undertaken in Algeria. The scheme makes
infrastructure spending the largest slice of the government’s
2001-2005 $7 billion economic stimulation package and reflects,
says Dr. Amar Ghoul, the Minister of Public Works, “the extreme
political and economic importance attached to realizing this
program.” |
According to the Ministry’s development template for 2002-2020, master
plans have been drawn up for roads and highways, road signs harbors,
and airports.
The biggest of these will be the roads and highways development
program. Currently 85% of Algeria’s trade goes through the country’s
100,000-plus km road network, but the road system remains disjointed
and suffers form major bottlenecks around the key commercial centers.
In order to cope with the increasing traffic and enable better access
to the more remote areas of the country, the Ministry has undertaken
the construction of the East-West highway, which is the most ambitious
and strategic undertaking under the master plan and set for completion
by 2008/2009. At 1,216 km, the highway will stretch from the Moroccan
border in the West to the Tunisian border in the East with a total
development cost of $7 billion. The East-West highway is also designed
for integration into the Maghreb Highway encompassing Morocco,
Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and potentially Egypt. The construction of
the highway will generate approximately 100,000 jobs.
Other major road projects include a ring road around Algiers,
scheduled to be completed in 2005, the development of the coastal road
system, which stretches 1,280 km and whose completion will provide
significant means for the development of the tourism and fishing
industries, while improving commercial links between coastal centers.
The High Plateau highway, which runs south of the East-West highway,
and North-South freeways, are also being pursued, which will open
previously uneconomical areas of the country for industry and
agro-industry. Finally, the Ministry is also planning for the
Trans-Saharan road, which will link Algeria to its southern neighbors,
Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Chad, and is being complimented by the
extension of gas pipelines and fiber optic networks.
For Algeria’s maritime infrastructure, there are 37 projects (mainly
building new ports and extending existing ones) scheduled to start by
2005, while an estimated $2.5 billion will be required to further
develop aviation infrastructure. Algeria currently has 56 airports, 12
of them international.
Also under the public works banner is New City of Sidi Abdellah
Management Company (ANSA). Initiated five years ago, the “city of the
future” is being seen as an alternative city to Algiers, which suffers
from overpopulation and limited infrastructure. Located 25 km west of
Algiers, the new city of Sidi Abdellah is being promoted as a hub for
education and economic development by the time of its completion in
2020. The city is projected to have a population of 200,000 and
sustain approximately 20,000 jobs via special industrial zones. The
project is financed 71% by the State and 29% by private investors.
Some Arab investors are already expressing interest: Qatari investors
are examining housing development, Jordan is looking at
pharmaceuticals, while the Lebanese are studying the construction of
aluminum and glass factories.
Included in the development is the “cyberparc” concept, which will
involve an institute for telecommunications, a technical university,
Internet and telecommunications agencies, and offices for “start up”
ventures. The concept already exists in Tunisia and Morocco.
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ROAD:
AIR:
SEA:
RAIL:
PIPELINES: |
Network of 104,450 km
57 airports (12 international)
36 ports (22 trade and fishing, 2 hydrocarbons, 1 leisure)
4,820 km
Crude oil 6,612 km; Petroleum products 298 km;
Natural gas 2,948 km |
Algeria’s public works sector will see the highest influx of
government funds from its $7 billion economic stimulus program
over 2001-2005.
TO WATCH
The East-West highway. In 2003 construction will continue on
Algeria’s largest public works project – the 1,200 km East-West
highway. Stretching from Morocco to Tunisia, the highway will be a
vital transport route for people and businesses within Algeria and
form a key part of the Trans-Maghreb highway.
Public works financing (2003 to 2005)
in USD millions
Highways
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Roads
maintenance |
Road |
Airports |
Marine |
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4,100* |
725 |
471 |
220 |
413 |
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