Minister cites long fight ahead as Iraq shuts 100s of polluting factories

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Environment Minister Helu al-Askari said Sunday that combating pollution is a long-term process, saying authorities issued more than 900 closure orders against factories found in violation during 2025.

Al-Askari told the Iraqi News Agency that “the process of combating pollution is long and requires a period of time, but the ministry, through monitoring and inspection teams, continues to impose penalties and fines against violators.”

He said the law grants enforcement authority to the ministry. “The law gives authority to the Ministry of Environment’s teams to issue warnings, fines and closure orders against violators and refer them to the judiciary,” al-Askari said, adding that “more than 900 closure orders were issued against violating factories during 2025, as well as referring dozens to the courts, and we continue monitoring and inspection.”

Al-Askari said stronger legal backing is needed. “The ministry needs support through strict laws and instructions against violators, in addition to environmental awareness and culture within society,” he said.

He said the ministry is working on regulatory changes. “The ministry needs the enactment of laws and the issuance of decisions by the government,” al-Askari said, noting that “we are in the process of changing a number of decisions related to location criteria and have sent the draft to the State Council.”

He added that the ministry is also seeking to better use financial resources. “We have instructions regarding the Environmental Protection Fund so that we can use the amounts collected from fees and fines to use them in projects,” he said.

In recent months, authorities across Iraq have stepped up enforcement against polluting industrial operations. On Dec. 18, 2025, Baghdad Operations Command said it closed 326 facilities for violating environmental and health regulations, including metal smelters and brick and asphalt factories in the capital, as part of efforts to curb air pollution. In June 2025, the command announced the closure of several non-compliant factories and smelting furnaces in Baghdad’s Rusafa area for producing harmful emissions and odors.

Late December 2024 saw the shutdown of 10 unlicensed metal and asphalt plants in eastern Baghdad for environmental and safety violations. In October 2024, authorities ordered the immediate closure of unauthorized metal smelting plants, brick and asphalt factories and illegal landfill sites to reduce pollution risks across the capital. These actions reflect ongoing concerns over industrial pollution’s impact on air quality and public health in Iraqi governorates, particularly Baghdad.