Libya is in the process of constructing what is expected to be the largest Direct Reduced Iron Steel Plant in Africa.
The Chief of Staff of the Land Forces in Eastern and Southern regions, Lieutenant General Saddam Khalifa Haftar, has launched the construction of what is also being described as the world’s largest Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) steel plant.
The giant factory is being planted in the Ras Al-Mnqar, area, located east of Benghazi.
During his visit, Lieutenant General Saddam Khalifa Haftar met with representatives from Tosyali Group, a leading steel company, and reviewed the progress on site.
The General also called for the establishment of an affiliated training facility which will be preparing Libyan, especially the youth to become skilled workers to work in the envisaged steel plant.
Once completed, the proposed Libya’s Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) steel plant will cover 380 hectares of land and include a three kilometers’ long export bay into the sea.
The steel mill is expected to churn out over 7.5 million tons of steel per year.
It will also be environment friendly, capable of reducing energy use by over 25 percent and cutting down carbon emissions by 30 percent.
The DRI Factory is expected to create ​more than 7,000 ​direct jobs,
The project is a joint venture between the United Libyan Steel with 70 percent share and Tosyali Turkey, which owns 30 percent stake.
The proposed steel plant construction is being supervised by the National Development Authority.
Production is set to begin in two-years’ time, that is May 2027, with exports expected to commence from July 2027.