Construction of a major steel factory in Afghanistan's northern Balkh province has been completed at a cost of $50 million. According to sources, the plant is expected to become operational within the next two months and has a stated daily capacity of about 1,500 tonnes of steel rebar.
Balkh Steel Factory head Qasim Noori said the machinery was imported from India and uses a continuous production system he described as the first of its kind in Afghanistan and the region. The factory already employs about 200 Afghan workers and 30 Indian technical specialists.
Separately, Safi Steel, built with a $30 million investment, has recently begun operations in Mazar-e-Sharif with a daily capacity of about 1,000 tonnes. Balkh Governor Mohammad Yousuf Wafa visited industrial sites and pledged support for private-sector investment and domestic production.