Najaf salt production faces contamination concerns

NAJAF — Iraq once produced around 150,000 tons of salt annually, but the country continues to import the mineral, according to Najaf-based environmental expert Haidar Khattab. Speaking to 964media, Khattab raised concerns about salt extraction in fields southwest of Najaf near Bahr Al-Najaf, where traditional methods persist amid limited oversight and potential contamination.

Local producers compare salt cultivation to mushroom farming. They flood salt-rich lands with water, then expose them to air and sunlight to form crystals. Hussein Hamdi, who has worked in the industry for 30 years, said unclear procedures create challenges. “I rent the land officially from the owner, who is supposed to handle the government paperwork, but later they back out of their obligations,” he said.

Hamdi described the labor-intensive process, explaining that coarse salt is mainly used for animal feed and tanning, with human consumption limited to pickling. “We pump water over about 100 dunams, and when exposed to air and sunlight, the salt becomes granules,” he said. The operation produces roughly 60 tons daily, supplying Baghdad, Mosul, Ramadi, and other cities.

Khattab warned that some salt from the area could be contaminated. “There are signs of possible contamination, including radioactive or wastewater pollution,” he said, noting that non-rock salt contains organic materials and other impurities, while rock salt is purer. He added that Iraq produced 140,000 tons in 2012 and could export salt.

The expert called for official oversight. “We don’t have accurate studies on extracted quantities, but even without permits, extraction can reach 60 tons a day,” Khattab said. He urged the Ministry of Health to form committees to test salt from Bahr Al-Najaf and ensure safety standards.

Iraq’s main salt-producing areas include Bahr Al-Najaf, Lake Sawa in Al-Muthanna, and Basra Governorate, yet imports continue despite the domestic surplus.