Skip to main content

Contract problem for Algeria’s East-West Highway

Further problems surround the project to construct Algeria’s East-West Highway. Much of the route is complete, however a number of sections have faced delays with disputes having developed between contractors and the Algerian Government, which is overseeing the project. This latest development has seen the Algerian Ministry for Public Works announcing that the Japanese firm Cojaal has lost its contract to construct the remaining 84km of the eastern section of the East-West highway. It is not clear at presen
October 10, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Further problems surround the project to construct Algeria’s East-West Highway. Much of the route is complete, however a number of sections have faced delays with disputes having developed between contractors and the Algerian Government, which is overseeing the project. This latest development has seen the Algerian Ministry for Public Works announcing that the Japanese firm Cojaal has lost its contract to construct the remaining 84km of the eastern section of the East-West highway. It is not clear at present when the highway will be complete. The Algerian Ministry for Public Works has also said that two contractors will take over the work from Cojaal, with this expected to cost less than before. Overall the total cost of the East-West Highway will not exceed US$11 billion, according to the Algerian Ministry for Public Works. Cojaal and the Algerian Ministry for Public Works have yet to agree on compensation levels for the contract having been terminated and the arbitration procedure will be carried out in Algeria, as the contract does not provide for international arbitration.

Related Content

  • Algeria gives go ahead for 63km Guelma-Annaba motorway
    December 11, 2014
    Work has started on Algeria’s 63km bypass motorway to connect Guelma with Annaba and the East-West motorway, which is set to be completed within two years. Algeria’s Minister for Public Works Abdelkader Kadi made the announcement, has announced the launch of work on the 63km bypass connecting Guelma with Annaba. Nearly $346 million has been set aside for the 35km part of the project within the province of Guelma. In the province of Annaba, Kadi said that work had started on another section of the mot
  • Work to restart on major Algeria link projects
    September 8, 2016
    Algeria is planning to restart construction of the final section of the country’s East- West Highway project as well as a tunnel at Djebel El Ouahch. Some 84km of the East-West highway located in Algeria’s El Tarf region remains to be built following the withdrawal of a Japanese-led consortium from the project. The project to build the 1.9km twin tube tunnel at Djebel El Ouahch and close to Constantine faced major geological challenges.
  • Algeria key route completion
    November 9, 2017
    Construction work on Algeria’s East-West Highway project is finally drawing to a close.
  • Cojaal’s Algeria road contract restarting?
    October 7, 2015
    In yet another reversal for a key Algerian road project, the Algerian Government has overturned its earlier decision to cancel Cojaal’s contract. The Algerian Government opted to change its 2014 decision to cancel a contract with Japanese construction company Cojaal. The project is for Algeria’s massive East-West highway, for which Cojaal was working on an eastern stretch. Talks are being carried to reach an agreement with Cojaal, which was initially awarded the contract to build a 399km stretch of motorway