Construction of the third Ghori cement factory begins with an investment of $86.7 million; a milestone on the path to industrial self-sufficiency

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Kabul: The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the third Ghori cement factory was held today in the presence of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, and a number of government officials in Pul-e-Khumri, the capital of Baghlan province.

 

At the ceremony, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs said that the construction of this factory is one of the major and decisive projects in the direction of the country’s industrial and economic growth. He emphasized that the Islamic Emirate is trying to strengthen the domestic production base and reduce the country's dependence on foreign countries by reducing costly imports.

 

According to Mullah Baradar, while cement imports annually take millions of dollars out of the country, the establishment of production plants such as Ghori Cement not only increases domestic demand but also creates new job opportunities and prevents capital flight.

 

He emphasized that the National Development Company, as one of the economic arms of the government, plays a key role in investing and implementing infrastructure projects, and with the completion of this project, the production capacity of Ghori Cement will reach an unprecedented level.

 

In his speech, Maulvi Ahmad Jan Bilal, General Director of State-Owned Companies, also considered the establishment of the third Ghori Cement Factory an important step on the path to the country's industrial independence. He noted that this factory, while meeting a large part of the domestic demand, will strengthen national production and create thousands of job opportunities for the youth.

 

Bilal added that the Islamic Emirate has numerous other projects underway within the framework of state-owned companies, including the construction of factories for the production of industrial machinery, agricultural equipment, and various spare parts. He emphasized that the ultimate goal is to make the country self-sufficient and reduce its dependence on foreign countries as much as possible.

 

According to officials, the factory will be able to produce up to 5,000 tons of cement per day after completion, which is a huge leap compared to the current capacity.

 

Media sources have reported that the project is expected to take about 18 months to complete, and after commissioning, Afghanistan will be able to meet a large part of its domestic cement needs from domestic production.

 

Currently, two active Ghori cement factories are operating with a daily capacity of about 700 tons, and with the launch of the third phase, the total capacity will increase to more than 5,700 tons per day.

 

Cement industry experts say that Afghanistan has large reserves of limestone and raw materials that can supply not only the domestic market, but also the regional market. Currently, projects are being pursued in Nimroz, Herat, Logar, Jawzjan and Parwan provinces, which, when completed, will increase the country’s annual cement production capacity to 5.5 million tons.

 

According to economic experts, the third Ghori cement factory project is one of the country’s largest industrial investments in recent years. Studies show that domestic cement production not only helps reduce imports and preserve foreign exchange, but also provides employment for thousands of people. Observers say that if the investment trend in infrastructure industries continues, the country could become one of the major cement producers in the region in the near future. However, experts believe that challenges such as providing sustainable energy, proper resource management and creating a competitive market are key factors in the success of these projects.