Iraqi Minister of Industry and Minerals, Khalid Battal Al-Najm, laid the foundation stone on Thursday for a massive new integrated phosphate fertilizer complex in Iraq’s western Anbar province — marking a major step toward reviving the country’s industrial sector after years of stagnation and conflict.
The $2 billion project, developed through a strategic partnership between Iraq’s State Company for Phosphate and East China Engineering Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (ECEC), is poised to become one of the Middle East’s most significant fertilizer production hubs.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Minerals, the facility will have the capacity to produce 500,000 tons of triple superphosphate (TSP) fertilizer and 1 million tons of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer annually.
Minister Al-Najm emphasized that this milestone project is the first of several major investment ventures aimed at harnessing Iraq’s rich mineral resources. The Anbar desert region alone is home to an estimated 10 billion tons of phosphate reserves — among the largest in the world.
“This is not just an industrial revival,” Al-Najm said. “It is a strategic turning point for Iraq’s economy, and a launchpad for future projects, including upcoming silica production initiatives.”
The project is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, reduce Iraq’s reliance on imported fertilizers, and position the country as a key regional supplier in the global agricultural supply chain.