Despite numerous challenges, among which are the global economic headwinds and local political instability, a new steel facility has been commissioned in Iraq.

Rather positive long-term prospects for rebar demand are the main reason for capacity expansion taking place in the Kurdistan region.

Iraq’s Galiawa Group announced the launch of the second rolling mill at van steel enterprise located in Erbil, the Kurdistan region’s main city.

The plant has two rolling mills for producing 8-32 mm rebar with a total annual capacity of 700,000 t. “We started commercial operations, and we proceed with the sales already,” the company’s representative told Metal Expert.

Van Steel is also already equipped with an EAF-based steelmaking complex with 750,000 tpy nominal production capacity.

The total investment in the Van Steel facility is evaluated at $340 million. Galiawa Group received a licence for the establishment of the new plant in May 2020, and the construction was started in January 2021. The company plans to sell its products to domestic customers as it sees big potential in the Iraqi construction sector.