Cherchell, Algeria — September 9, 2025
Bulldozers are back on the coast near Cherchell. After years of silence, Algeria has revived work on El-Hamdania, a deep-water port project valued at 4.7 billion dollars and backed by Chinese partners.
The site, about 80 kilometers west of Algiers, had stood idle, a symbol of delays and political hesitation. Now, with new financing agreed, engineers and workers have returned.
“This port will give Algeria independence. No more detours through Tangier or Valencia,” said a government source on condition of anonymity.
A project on pause for years
El-Hamdania was first launched in the mid-2010s with the promise of turning Algeria into a Mediterranean hub. The plan includes container berths able to host the largest ships and capacity for 25 million tonnes of cargo each year. But cost overruns and shifting alliances froze progress — until now.
Strategic weight
For China, this is another foothold in North Africa’s maritime chain. For Algeria, it is a chance to cut reliance on foreign hubs and gain leverage in regional trade.
Mixed local feelings
In Cherchell, the return of construction stirs hope and doubt. Shopkeepers speak of new customers. Young people dream of jobs. But fishermen fear losing access to parts of the coast. Environmental groups warn about long-term damage to marine life.
The road ahead
Officials insist the first docks will be operational by 2028. Skeptics point to past promises that slipped. For now, the only certainty is that heavy machinery has started moving again on Algeria’s shoreline — and the country is betting big on a port it hopes will redefine its place in global trade.
