Iraq has officially launched construction on a $2 billion fertilizer complex in al-Anbar province, aiming to leverage the region’s massive phosphate reserves as a catalyst for industrial growth.
The facility is expected to produce 500,000 tons of triple super phosphate (TSP) and one million tons of diammonium phosphate (DAP) per year—fertilizers critical to enhancing crop yields, particularly in nutrient-deficient soils. DAP also offers nitrogen to support early plant development.
Minister of Industry and Minerals, Khaled Battal al-Najm, hailed the project as a cornerstone of Iraq’s broader industrial strategy, describing it as “the start of large-scale investment in the western desert,” home to an estimated 10 billion tons of phosphate.
Government officials see the complex as a model for Iraq’s industrial transformation. With rising public and private sector interest, there’s growing optimism that Iraq may finally succeed in converting its resource wealth into long-term economic prosperity.
Economist Taha al-Janabi praised the project’s strategic potential, noting Iraq’s historical tendency to export raw phosphate despite the higher value of domestic processing. Still, he urged caution: “Iraq must ensure long-term sustainability, avoid funding and management pitfalls, and adopt a solid strategic framework.”
Source: Shafaq News
