Iraq’s Largest Cement Factory Resumes Operations After Environmental Overhaul

Iraq’s Largest Cement Factory Resumes Operations After Environmental Overhaul

Iraq’s largest cement factory, located in Kirkuk, has resumed operations following a significant environmental upgrade. The 45-year-old plant, which had been shut down in mid-November due to non-compliance with environmental regulations, is now back in operation after a comprehensive overhaul aimed at reducing pollution and improving sustainability standards.

The factory’s management made considerable improvements, including the installation of a new dust control system and pollution monitoring equipment. These upgrades followed an environmental inspection by the Kirkuk Environment Directorate, which confirmed that the plant had successfully implemented measures to meet sustainable pollutant standards. The improvements to the dust filtration systems were key to ensuring the factory’s compliance with modern environmental regulations. Ali Ezzedine Khurshid, the Kirkuk Environmental Director, emphasized that these efforts were crucial in helping reduce air pollutants and improve the overall environmental quality in the region. The factory had previously been fined IQD 450 million ($343,351) for failing to meet environmental standards. Additionally, local residents, particularly those in Lailan, had protested against the factory’s pollution, citing adverse health effects and damage to local vegetation.

The factory’s reopening follows several years of underinvestment in Iraq’s industrial infrastructure, stemming from the impact of the US invasion, the subsequent civil war, and a legacy of limited investment under the regime of Saddam Hussein. The Kirkuk cement factory was initially established in 1980 by a Japanese company and had been a leading producer of high-quality cement in Iraq. The factory’s maintenance also included the enhancement of dust treatment units, and air pollutant (TSP) measurements were taken to ensure the plant’s industrial activities meet the required environmental criteria. This is part of a broader effort by the Iraqi government to address long-standing environmental challenges in the industrial sector. In addition to the environmental upgrades, Iraq’s Oil Pipelines Company had restarted oil pipeline supplies to the Kirkuk Cement Plant in August 2024, after more than three years of inactivity. This rehabilitation work, including the restoration of the pipeline, plays a crucial role in supporting the factory’s operations and long-term sustainability.