Balkh Steel Industry Expands With Eight More Factories Planned

The Balkh Steel Producers Association says seven factories involved in steel smelting and the production of rebar, profiles, girders and other steel products are currently operating in the province, with a daily production capacity of more than 1,000 tons.

Officials say the factories supply a large share of demand in northern Afghanistan and that eight additional factories are expected to begin operations in the near future.

Najmuddin Sediq, head of the Balkh Steel Producers Association, said: “Currently, four factories are operating in the steel smelting sector and three factories are producing profiles and pipes, while around eight more factories are under construction.”

Factory owners say power shortages, the lack of suitable land for industrial expansion and limited access to raw materials are major obstacles to production. They have called on the Islamic Emirate to begin extracting the country’s iron ore resources.

Factory owner Abdul Hadi Ahmadi said: “The Islamic Emirate should begin extracting iron ore and sign an agreement with a country to help with its extraction so this problem can be resolved. We import our raw materials from Iran.”

The operation of these factories has created employment opportunities for thousands of people, both directly and indirectly.

Workers welcomed the opportunities and called on investors to increase domestic investment to help expand production and create more jobs.

Worker Sanaullah said: “We are working in our own country and have been freed from laboring in other countries. We ask investors to invest inside Afghanistan so employment opportunities can be created for our fellow citizens and they will not be forced to travel abroad through dangerous routes.”

Another worker, Entezar, said: “We are very happy. I am so happy that I feel like crying. Neighboring countries should let us progress.”

Meanwhile, local officials in Balkh say they visit factories twice a month to identify and address the challenges facing industrialists and assess their situation.

They also pledged continued support for industrialists and investors in the province.

Noorulhadi Abu Idris, deputy governor of Balkh, said: “We visit factories to identify and address the challenges facing factory owners, so that we can hear their concerns directly and take the necessary measures to support them.”

According to officials, 50 steel production and smelting factories are currently operating across Afghanistan.

These factories have the capacity to produce around 6,000 tons of rebar per day and have succeeded in fully meeting domestic demand for the product.