Iraq meets the challenges of the iron industry with an import strategy

The Iraqi government is working to strengthen its iron industry and is aware of the limited quality of its domestic ore reserves, according to OPEC member Khalid Battal, Minister of Industry and Minerals.

He told the Iraqi News Agency that iron ore is found in the Al-Husseiniyat region in western Iraq, but its purity is only around 30 percent, while a minimum purity of 60-70 percent is required for the production of sponge iron.

To solve this problem, the ministry is supporting the efforts of a Chinese company to import higher purity iron ore under existing contracts in Argentina, Zimbabwe, China and Indonesia, which will then be supplied to the local industry for processing.

"Our plan is to ensure a reliable supply of raw materials for various industries. These include the construction sector, which uses rebar, as well as foundries that produce bars, structures and towers," he said.