The Ministry of Energy announced the signing of an agreement between Al-Hassan Holding Group and the Chinese Jiangsu Pengfei Group, with the aim of establishing an integrated factory for the production of cement and clinker in Raqqa Governorate.
The agreement was signed yesterday, Wednesday, in the People's Republic of China, as part of a government drive to revive strategic industries and reduce reliance on imports, according to what the Ministry of Economy and Industry published via its official channels.
The Ministry stated that this project comes with government directives and under the patronage of the Governor of Raqqa, Abdul Rahman Salameh. The Governorate is scheduled to receive a delegation from the Chinese company next month to complete preparations and begin implementation.
The Ministry explained that the project completion period is estimated at about two years, with a production capacity of 7000 tons of cement and 5000 tons of clinker daily, which makes it one of the largest industrial investments in the region.
The project will also contribute to securing the needs of the local market and supporting reconstruction and infrastructure projects, in addition to providing hundreds of job opportunities, transferring expertise, and localizing heavy industries with the participation of specialized Syrian personnel.
In a related development, the Ministry of Economy and Industry stated that a meeting held yesterday at the Ministry's headquarters in Damascus discussed the direction for establishing an integrated industrial city and an organized craft zone, with the aim of accommodating the expansion in productive activities, regulating the work of workshops, and improving the investment environment in line with local development plans.
What Does the Announced Production Capacity Mean?
According to the figures stated in the agreement, the announced daily capacity is 7,000 tons of cement and 5,000 tons of clinker, for a combined planned capacity of 12,000 tons per day once the project reaches its intended operating stage. On a theoretical 30-day basis, this would represent approximately 360,000 tons of products in a full operating month. This calculation illustrates the announced project scale only and does not mean that actual production has already been achieved.
The relevance of this capacity for the local market lies in the connection between cement, clinker, construction, infrastructure and reconstruction projects mentioned in the report. The project may provide additional value if the stated employment, expertise-transfer and industrial-localization goals become measurable results after implementation begins.
What Should Be Followed Next?
Assessing the project will depend on practical milestones, including the arrival of the Chinese company delegation, the start of implementation work, adherence to the estimated two-year timeline, and the later publication of actual completion and operating-capacity data.
