Latest news with #KhaledBattalal-Najm
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Factories at risk: Water scarcity hurting strategic industries
Shafaq News/ Worsening water shortages in Iraq are disrupting key manufacturing sectors, Industry Minister Khaled Battal al-Najm warned, urging reforms to protect domestic production. Speaking at a National Industry Day event on Wednesday in Baghdad, al-Najm called for stronger protections at border crossings to ensure fair competition, citing lax enforcement by customs and trade authorities. He reaffirmed the government's focus on strategic industries including steel, sulfur, phosphate, pharmaceuticals, and electrical manufacturing. However, 'the private sector must lead this transformation' given limited public funding. Energy shortages remain the sector's biggest hurdle, according to al-Najm. 'No factory can operate profitably without reliable electricity and gas,' he stated, pointing to the lack of industrial financing from Iraqi banks. Iraq's deepening water crisis has further strained supply chains. Reduced river flows, worsened by upstream dams in Turkiye and Iran, along with poor domestic management have limited access to essential raw materials, including sugar, oils, and textiles. Looking ahead, al-Najm said fair market conditions could unlock private sector potential. 'With the right environment, this sector can play a pivotal role in national growth.'
Shafaq News
22-05-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq launches $2B fertilizer complex in al-Anbar
Shafaq News/ Iraq has broken ground on a $2B fertilizer complex in al-Anbar, aiming to transform the province's vast phosphate reserves into a foundation for industrial development. The project is designed to produce 500,000 tons of triple super phosphate (TSP) and one million tons of diammonium phosphate (DAP) annually. Both fertilizers are essential for improving crop yields, especially in nutrient-deficient soils. DAP additionally provides nitrogen, supporting early plant growth. Industry and Minerals Minister Khaled Battal al-Najm described the launch as a milestone in Iraq's industrial strategy, calling it 'the beginning of large-scale investment in the western desert,' which holds an estimated 10 billion tons of phosphate. Officials view the fertilizer complex as a test case for industrial transformation, as with renewed public and private interest, Iraq's ability to convert resource wealth into lasting economic strength may finally be within reach. Economist Taha al-Janabi welcomed the project's potential to reshape Iraq's approach to natural resources. 'For decades, Iraq exported raw phosphate despite its high added value when processed locally,' he told Shafaq News. However, he cautioned that structural risks remain. 'Iraq must ensure operational sustainability, avoid administrative and funding failures, and provide long-term strategic planning.'
Shafaq News
14-05-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq's industrial leap: Two major projects transforming Basra
Shafaq News/ Iraq launched two large-scale industrial initiatives in Basra on Wednesday, with the Minister of Industry and Minerals, Khaled Battal al-Najm, describing them as a turning point for national development and local job creation. Speaking at a press conference, al-Najm highlighted the country's largest chemical production complex at the General Company for Petrochemical Industries. The plant, set to be built using modern membrane cell technology, is designed to produce 120 tons of caustic soda, 106 tons of liquid chlorine, 185 tons of hydrochloric acid, and 150 tons of sodium hypochlorite daily. 'The facility will support key sectors such as oil, water treatment, and manufacturing, while generating new employment opportunities for residents of Basra,' he confirmed, stressing that the project addresses essential public needs, particularly in the sterilization of drinking water, and is part of a broader plan to replace outdated plants with high-efficiency alternatives. Separately, the minister launched the Green Mountain Industrial City—the first of its kind in Iraq—developed in partnership with China's Tsingshan Group and the General Company for Iron and Steel. The site will cover 2,000 dunams and host facilities focused on steel, construction materials, and related industries, with modern infrastructure tailored for long-term industrial growth. 'The city represents a shift toward integrated, sustainable manufacturing zones that will strengthen Iraq's economic base, expand production capacity, and offer specialized employment.' Since May 2023, the ministry has launched multiple investment packages, with more on the way. Al-Najm invited Iraqi and international companies to compete for new opportunities, reaffirming full support for private-sector participation—particularly in Basra, which he called 'Iraq's economic capital.'
Shafaq News
13-04-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq: 4,500 + employees protest privatization of Basra Fertilizer Plant
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, thousands of employees protested in Iraq's Basra, opposing the transfer of the Khor Al-Zubair Fertilizer Plant into private investment. The demonstrators, who work for the Southern State Company for Fertilizers under the Ministry of Industry and Minerals, expressed fears that privatization could lead to mass layoffs or cuts to their monthly salaries. A representative of the group, speaking on condition of anonymity, estimated that approximately 4,700 employees are appealing directly to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and members of parliament to stop the investment process, insisting that the facility has been operating efficiently under Iraqi management. 'There's no reason to dismiss the efforts of local workers or reduce their financial entitlements under the label of investment,' the representative told our agency. 'What we're calling for is support to improve output and develop the plant, not marginalization.' The protest reflects growing unease surrounding the government's broader strategy to expand private sector involvement in Iraq's industrial sector. Just weeks earlier, Minister of Industry and Minerals Khaled Battal al-Najm announced the reopening of the Abu Al-Khasib nitrogen fertilizer plant, also located in southern Basra. Rebuilt at $1.3 billion, the facility has been upgraded with modern production technology and is expected to help meet local market demand.
