Since March 21, Setram, the tram operating company in Algeria, has become 100% Algerian, after the withdrawal of the French partner Ratp (Autonomous Paris Transport Authority), which sold all of its shares to the public group.
Ratp sold its 49% stake in Setram to Transtev, which now owns 85% of the company. 51% of the Algerian part was held by Transtev and the EMA with respectively 36% and 15% of the shares. The amount of the transaction and the reasons for Ratp’s withdrawal were not disclosed.
The news was announced, to the economic information site Algeria Invest, by the new general manager of Setram, Mustapha Lahmer, appointed head of the company on March 21, 2023. The latter explained that it is the foreign partner who decided to sell his shares. The acquisition of RATP shares by the Transtev Group was made under good conditions, he said.
Two weeks ago, the new chief executive chaired a meeting of the management committee of Setram “now 100% Algerian”, the company said in a statement on LinkedIn.
“The axes discussed revolved mainly around the development and improvement of the quality of service, in order to offer tram users the best of public service. Other subjects were discussed, putting the safety and comfort of travelers at the center of Setram’s concerns,” said the same source.
Setram currently operates trams in Algiers, Oran, Constantine, Sidi Bel Abbes, Ouargla, Sétif and Mostaganem. The tramway of the city of Mostaganem was put into operation on February 18th.
Created in 2015, Transtev brings together passenger transport companies, including the Algiers Metro Company (EMA), Setram and Etac for cable transport.
As a reminder, the French Ratp withdrew from the operation of the Algiers Metro, after the expiry of its contract at the end of October 2020. The French company had been operating the Algiers Metro since 2011. The Algerian authorities, who n did not renew the Ratp contract, decided to switch to 100% Algerian management with the creation of Métro El Djazaïr, a subsidiary of the EMA.
