A commercial port requiring investment of about $1.9bn is being planned by the Algerian government.

The port will be built on a property stretching across 10 million square metres between the cities of Cherchell in Tipaza and Tenes in Chlef. It will be officially launched in 2016, according to a report by the news agency Algerie Presse Service.

Work is expected to be split between public and private firms, in partnership with foreign companies.

Chinese firms are being considered among the potential partners for developing and operating the port. Their participation in the project, says a government executive, will open up oportunities to access markets beyond Africa to include the Mediterranean, southern Europe and the Arab states.

The new port is expected to feature significant capacity and will include a 3 million-sq-m logistics centre.

The government will provide full funding for the scheme.