Baghdad – IA
The Director General of the Iraqi General Cement Company, affiliated with the Ministry of Industry, Hussein Al-Khafaji, announced today, Tuesday, that the total volume of production has increased to 10 million tons after carrying out rehabilitation operations for the company’s factories. While he explained the content of these operations, he confirmed the achievement of revenues amounting to 195 billion dinars last year, revealing Developing new products that supported the foundations of the Mosul Dam and oil licensing projects, while identifying the most important axes of the company’s plan for the current year.
Al-Khafaji said in an interview with the (INA): “The company is responsible for managing and operating 18 factories, 16 of which are for cement, in addition to the Al-Nour stone quarry factory in Holy Karbala and a grinding station in Basra.”
He added, “Real rehabilitation work was carried out and production was restored again in these factories, which resulted in an increase in total production by approximately one and a half million tons in the year 2023, bringing total production to about 10 million tons.”
He added, “The rehabilitation work for the production lines raised the volume of revenues to 195 billion last year,” noting that “it included converting the burning systems in the production lines in the furnaces from black oil to natural gas, which reduced production costs and improved its quality.”
He continued, “The company was also able to produce the quality of PG cement that is very much required by the Ministry of Oil in support of oil licensing rounds projects as well as oil wells, after the rehabilitation of the Babylon Cement Factory, which was established in 1957, where the work included changing the technological path of the two production lines.” This type of cement was imported from abroad with hard currency.”
He stressed, “The rehabilitation work included the Nineveh Cement Factory in the Hammam Al-Alil area. The factory was also built in 1957, and its production was low due to the lack of modernization of its lines. We were able to change the technological path and produce a quality cement that is resistant to sulphates, low alkalis, fast-hardening, and ultra-fine for the purpose of treating the foundations of the Mosul Dam.” This is an important achievement for this strategic project, the largest of its kind in Iraq, and this material was also imported.”
He pointed out that “the Italian company supervising the treatment of the dam praised the quality of cement produced,” noting that “the company also produces, through its new production lines, typical cement of both resistant and ordinary types, as well as an atypical type that we referred to (PG and G), which is resistant to sulfates.” .
Regarding the challenges among Al-Khafaji, “We have a real problem represented by the swelling number of employees, as it exceeds twice the actual need.”
Regarding the plans for the year 2024, Al-Khafaji explained, “This year, the company hopes to conclude partnerships with the private sector to rehabilitate a new number of factories and increase their design capacity, and we have plans that include the new Hammam Al-Alil cement factory, which was referred to a partnership contract with the Turkish company Parktecnik, which it delayed and the contract was canceled.” With it, its rehabilitation has begun, and it is hoped that it will enter production this year, and we expect that it will provide good imports that will increase the total volume of revenues.”
He continued, “In addition, there are investment opportunities also granted through partnership contracts, including a contract with the Turkish Zodiac company in Nineveh Governorate, and we have a contract under signing in the Holy Najaf Governorate. Through these contracts, it is possible for us to increase production during the year 2024 to cover and meet the country’s need, both in terms of Infrastructure for state departments and projects, or through citizens wishing to implement various projects such as housing units.”
He pointed out, “Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudalni announced 5 residential cities, and we at the Iraqi Cement Company are serious about providing what these cities need, as well as state and citizen projects of all kinds.”