In 2012, Etihad Food Industries Co. Ltd. was established in the Madhatiya region of Babylon Governorate. It set up Iraq’s first and, to this day, only sugar refinery. The sugar factory employs 2000 individuals from a variety of fields and specialties. The factory commenced actual production in 2015, initially producing 3000 tons of refined white sugar daily. This output gradually rose to 4200 tons per day.
The company Imports raw sugar from renowned sugarcane-growing nations and various other sources worldwide, including Brazil and India. It markets its diverse range of white sugar products at economically reasonable prices, making them accessible to all societal classes in Iraq. Concurrently, the company is committed to adhering to the most stringent global quality standards in its production processes.
In 2016, Etihad Food Industries Co. Ltd. established a factory for refining vegetable oils. By 2017, the factory was fully operational, producing 2000 tons of refined vegetable oils daily. Over time, the factory expanded its operations, and its current daily production capacity stands at 2400 tons of refined vegetable oils. The workforce at the oil-refining factory comprises approximately 1000 employees and laborers.
The company has a 60 MW power plant. In addition, the company also has a substantial fleet of vehicles dedicated to the transportation of sugar and oil. This includes 400 trucks specifically for sugar transport, 150 tanker trucks for oil transport, and an additional 50 trucks that serve multiple purposes.
The company also owns its own dedicated berth at the Umm Qasr port in Basra. This is utilized for the importation of raw materials from overseas.
Sugar Refining Factory
Etihad Sugar Factory is considered one of the largest sugar refining factories in the Middle East and North Africa. The factory is designed by BMA according to the latest global technology. The sugar refining factory has obtained several certificates from the largest global laboratories, including Eurofins, Asia Pacific Technical Center, SGS, and others.
The sugar refining factory adheres to the following set of standards:
- The Iraqi Standard Specification for white sugar1985.
- The Iraqi Standard Specification for microbial limits, set on 03/02/2011.
- The International Codex Standard 1999-212.
- European Union Sugar Market Regime-EEC Grade 2(EU 1972)
- The PI Specification No.17232546 for Granulated Refined Sugar Cane, a global standard set by Pepsi Cola Company.
- The BP-SP-116 Coco Cola specification for Granular Sucrose, a global standard set by Coca-Cola Company.
Vegetable Oil Refinery Factory
Etihad Vegetable Oil Refining Factory is considered one of the largest vegetable oil-producing factories in the Middle East and the world. The oil refining factory was designed according to the specifications, designs, and controls of the largest companies in the world in the field of oil refining, including the Belgian company Desmet and the German company Krones, among other global companies. The vegetable oil refining factory has obtained several certificates from the largest global laboratories, including the Salamon & Seaber laboratory, which is one of the well-known global laboratories in the United Kingdom.
The vegetable oil refining factory adheres to the following set of standards:
- The shelf life of foodstuffs as per the Iraqi standard specification IQS 1847/2012.
- The labeling of packaged and canned foodstuffs according to the Iraqi standard specification IQS 230/1989.
- Health regulations in food manufacturing and preparation plants as per the Iraqi standard specification.
- The Iraqi standard specification IQS 1582/2012 for sunflower seed oil intended for consumption.
- The Iraqi standard specification IQS 134/2017 for crude sunflower seed oil.
- The international Codex Alimentarius Commission standard 210-1999.
Etihad Power Plant
Initially designed with a 20 MW capacity, the power plant was later expanded to 60 MW to provide the energy needs of the company’s factories. Spanning an area of 7200 square meters, this facility is the company’s sole and independent source of electricity. The establishment of this station was carried out by the EKOL.
Etihad Terminal at Umm Qasr Port
The company has its exclusive terminal which is Berth No. 2, at Umm Qasr Port in Basra. The company employs a specialized team and utilizes specific equipment for the reception and unloading of vessels carrying raw sugar and crude oil. The company has 30 storage tanks at its disposal, each with a capacity of 4250 tons, culminating in a total storage capacity of 127,500 tons of crude oil. This infrastructure enables the company to accommodate multiple oil tankers carrying large loads (33,000 tons) and to unload them within an impressive timeframe of 30 hours.
In terms of sugar, the company has a warehouse in Basra dedicated to storing 60,000 tons of raw sugar. The company’s fleet, which includes 400 trucks for the transportation of raw sugar, has the capability to unload a cargo of 42,000 tons in an exceptional time of no more than 4 days.
Storage Facilities
The company possesses storage facilities spanning 4800 square meters, specifically designed for the storage of final products. These include white sugar, with a storage capacity of 200,000 tons, and vegetable oils, also with a capacity of 200,000 tons.