JEDDAH – Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah, has ordered the closure of Al-Rajhi Iron Factory in Jeddah for not abiding by environmental regulations. The factory was polluting Al-Qouzain district in Al-Khumrah area due to the emission of toxic gases. It is the largest steel plant in Jeddah. While issuing instructions to Jeddah Mayor Hani Aburas to close down the plant, Prince Khaled stressed that nobody was above the law and the health of a single citizen was more important than any commercial or industrial project. The directive received by the Jeddah municipality on Tuesday required the municipality to shut down the factory immediately and report the closure to the Emir within 24 hours. A committee of 15 members representing the Makkah governorate, the municipality, Civil Defense and the police carried out the order. According to the municipality sources, the company submitted a plea to the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs explaining their activities. However, the governorate sided with the residents in the district and decided to close down the factory until radical solutions are found for the pollution problem and the entire unit is relocated to the industrial estate allocated for such factories. Residents of Al-Qouzain district welcomed the decision saying that they have been served justice. They said the municipality did not listen to their complaints throughout the past years. The Jeddah municipality confirmed that the factory was not licensed by the municipality, as it did not obtain an environmental approval from the Presidency for Meteorology and Environment (PME). It said the factory started production in 2007 and has been in operation for five years without a license. It continued operations even after it was notified to comply with the directives. The cost of the factory exceeds SR1 billion. It produces solid iron ingots with a production capacity of 850,000 tons annually. The factory provides raw materials for the production of reinforced steel bars and iron rolls to meet the requirements of the local market and the markets in neighboring countries. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has classified the factory in the Class 3 category, which is for industries having serious environmental effects.
