Iraq Plans to Develop Silica Sand, Waste-to-Energy Projects

Iraq is advancing plans to develop silica sand and waste-to-energy projects this year, a spokesperson of the National Investment Commission (NIC) said.

Hanan Jassim said that NIC is conducting a feasibility study for production of high-purity (98 percent) silica sand, a crucial raw material for production of semiconductors.

The sector has the potential to contribute up to $100 billion annually to Iraq’s economy, she said.

Jassim said the country’s second waste-to-energy project will be built in Abu Ghraib in Baghdad governorate following the successful award of the first project in Nahrawan.

The Nahrawan project, designed to handle 3,000 tonnes/day of waste and generate 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity, was awarded to Shanghai-based SUS Environment.

The Abu Ghraib waste-to-energy project is expected to procured on the same lines as the Nahrawan project, according to previous NIC statements.