Salah Al-Din town emerges as hub for premium charcoal production

SALAH AL-DIN — The town of Dhuluiya, renowned for its expansive eucalyptus and citrus orchards, has gained a reputation as a center for producing high-quality charcoal, sought after across Iraq. Local producers such as Walid Shakir and Mohammed Khattab create this premium charcoal by cutting, drying, and burning wood in specialized kilns called “kura.”

Despite the labor-intensive process, the charcoal is sold at affordable prices, ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 Iraqi dinars per bag (approximately $1.30 to $1.97 USD).

“The abundance of orchards in Dhuluiya gives us access to the best trees for making charcoal,” Shakir told 964media. “We dry the wood under the sun, then burn it in pits, producing the highest quality charcoal.”

Khattab described the process in more detail: “We place the dried wood in the kilns, burn it for a full day, and extinguish it with water the next day. After that, we package the charcoal and distribute it to governorates like Baghdad and Anbar.”

Charcoal made from trees such as orange, plum, apple, and pear is highly prized for its long-lasting burn, making it ideal for grilling. Other types, including eucalyptus, olive, and tamarisk, are particularly good for grilling chicken. Unlike imported varieties that often contain diesel for easy ignition, Dhuluiya’s charcoal is known for its pleasant aroma and high quality, with no risk of sparking or exploding during use.