Lafarge Iraq and Faruk Holding complete three major investments in Tasluja and Bazian

Lafarge Iraq and Faruk Holding are pleased to announce the opening of a new $6 Million USD filter system for cleaner air at the Tasluja Cement Plant, $966 000 USD of community investment projects in the Tasluja area, and their new world class mechanical training facility in the Bazian Cement Plant

 

Lafarge Iraq and Faruk Holding today showcased the completion of three major investments in Tasluja and Bazian, confirming their ongoing commitment to sustainable investment in the environment, education and the community.

The new $6 million filter system now in operation at the Tasluja Cement Plant, is the biggest investment made at the plant since the begin of the partnership of Lafarge and Faruk Holding in cement operations. The new ‘de-dusting' filter ensures that air in the plant and its surrounding areas is now much cleaner and the filtration system is infinitely more efficient than the old one.

Maintaining a sustainable and safe environment is one of Lafarge and Faruk Group's key aims and the Tasluja plant now comes up to high international standards for clean air.

The opening ceremony was followed by a tour of the recently completed community investment projects, $966 000 USD was jointly invested by Lafarge and their local partner Faruk

 

Holding in a variety of projects for the villages of Chaqzh Saru and Chaqzh Khwaru.  Speaking during the events, Hawre Daro, the CEO for Faruk Holding, emphasized the importance of companies continuing to invest in their workforce and the surrounding communities and environments. Without investment during difficult times, future growth will be even slower.

The final event was the opening of the new mechanical training center located at Lafarge's Bazian plant. The training center will allow for staff to receive vital training courses in-country and will also welcome Lafarge employees from across the region as it is their second training center in Middle East and Africa and home to the only Mini-plant simulator in the region.

The training center will help to further develop the skills of the local and regional workforce, by passing on the extensive knowledge and experience of the LafargeHolcim group.

The Head of Middle East-Africa Region of LafargeHolcim, Saad Sebbar said that he was pleased that in tough economic conditions Lafarge was still able to see the significant investment in human development and the opportunities this would bring to the employees.

Hawre Daro, also expressed how pleased he was to see the significant investment in human development and the opportunities this would bring to a large number of employees and contractors locally.

Rachid Benyakhlef, CEO of Lafarge Iraq, remarked at the opening that Lafarge's continued investment in its staff meant that they have not had to rely solely on expat staff and had developed a strong local team.

‘We hope that this training centre will demonstrate the continued commitment of Lafarge to the development of its staff, we are delighted that the Bazian training centre is home to the second training centre in Middle East and the only mini cement plant simulator in this region.'