AFP reports on the new billion-dollar deal:

The mega mosque will sit on 20 hectares (49 acres) of land in the Mohammadia area of the capital, with its minaret soaring soaring 270 metres (almost 900 feet) into the sky.

The one billion euro ($1.3-billion) house of worship will be able to 120,000 people and will also feature a library containing one million works and seating for 2,000, as well as a museum and a research centre.

It will be the world’s third largest mosque after those in Mecca and and Medina in Saudi Arabia. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika "wants to leave his mark" through the building of the mosque, which will also become the fourth grand mosque in Algiers, Ghlamallah added.

"Work will start today after the signing of the contract and should be completed in 42 months," the minister said.[…]

CSCEC was one of four Chinese companies that were disbarred in 2009 from bidding for World Bank financed projects for periods ranging from five to eight years after a corruption investigation in the Philippines, according to a World Bank statement.