Industry Ministry: Iraq has the largest sulfur reserves in the world

Iraq's Ministry of Industry and Minerals confirmed on Tuesday that Iraq is the world's number one in sulfur reserves while noting that the sedimentary sulfur reserves in the Mishraq fields amount to more than 400 million tons.

The media center of the Ministry of Industry and Minerals said in a statement that "the General Sulfur Company "Mishraq" affiliated with the Ministry of Industry and Minerals is the only one specialized in extracting and purifying sulfur, through the fields located in Nineveh Governorate," noting that "the sedimentary sulfur reserves in Mishraq is the first field in the world, with a volume of more than 400 million tons.

The statement also explained that "the sulfur industry started in 1971, and the sulfur produced in the Mishraq Sulfur Company played a major role in supporting the national economy by exporting to neighboring countries, as well as supporting the local fertilizer industry."

After the year 2003, sulfur production stopped as a result of the events of that period including the bombing and sabotage acts that affected the company's facilities and led to the complete suspension of work.

In 2010, the Mishraq Company set import priorities and purchased materials, machinery, and equipment and was able to purchase specialized sulfur wells excavators, and a specialized sulfur filtration unit, as well as purchasing a steam boiler unit, water pumps, and specialized pipes.

However, the emergence of the Islamic State terrorist gangs in the Nineveh Governorate in 2014 prevented production, as the company was exposed to theft by the terrorists.

The company resumed work for the second time in 2017 preparing an economic and technical feasibility study and preparing an integrated investment file for the refined sulfur production project in its current reality, but the project was halted.

According to Industry Ministry's statement, the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office directed a letter that includes leaving the decision regarding the investment of mineral resources to the next government, noting that the company is awaiting the appropriate decision regarding the matter.



PUKmedia