Trying to rebuild Afghanistan's shattered industry

Trying to rebuild Afghanistan's shattered industry

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After a break of 20 years, Afghanistan's first cement factory is once more clanking noisily in the countryside near Kabul as crushed-up limestone rocks rattle along a battered conveyor belt to the newly restored kiln.

In an area desperately short of industry and jobs, workers hope the relaunch of the plant, built by Czech engineers in 1957 and shut by the Taliban in 1995, heralds the revival of an industry shattered by decades of war and destruction.

. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

"By selling our products and improving the factory's production, we can avoid having our young generation go abroad," said Amir Mohammad. "If there are job possibilities, they can stay with their families and look after their children."

But the outdated state-owned plant 75 km (47 miles) outside Kabul also shows how far there is to go before that promise can be achieved and there are serious questions whether the plant has a viable future unless it is thoroughly modernised.

. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

Jabal Saraj, which now employs 150 workers, is a small factory with daily capacity of 100 tonnes and equipment that is at least 40 years out of date, the U.S. Geological Survey said in a 2011 report.

"We've tried our best and got the factory running using its old machinery," said Abdul Wakil, one of a group of former workers who have returned to help get the plant working again. "As long as we have electricity, it will work."

. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

Talks with a private operator to develop a separate, larger plant at Jabal Saraj have run for months, but for now, the government has decided the old plant still serves a purpose, a spokesman for the country's mines and petroleum ministry said.

"This old factory is useful and has a profitable production capacity," Mohyaddin Noori added. "It provides job opportunities."

. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

Afghanistan's only other major cement manufacturer, the Ghori cement plant, has daily capacity of more than 1,000 tonnes, but domestic industry is dwarfed by the millions of tonnes of imports from neighbours, including Pakistan and Iran.

That fierce competition makes it tough to find domestically produced cement in Kabul's main wholesale markets, even despite the fact that domestic cement's bulk and relatively low cost should penalise foreign cement, trucked in hundreds of miles.

"We have only Pakistani cement," said trader Ershad Shinwari. "Afghan-made cement is not coming to us."

. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

Demand for building materials has fallen sharply since international forces left in 2014 but the market has not collapsed and director Mohammadi hopes for domestic growth.

"There is huge demand for cement in Afghanistan," he said. "We've got the factory working, so it will give investors a chance."

. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

For the moment, however, Jabal Saraj relies on government subsidy to survive. The economics may be tough, but it is people nearby who are mainly looking for work.

"We ask the other countries to help this factory and provide new machinery to replace the old machines," said plant worker Wazir Mohammad.

"It will be very useful for our people as long as there is poverty in Afghanistan and everyone suffers insecurity."

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Slideshow

The Jabal Saraj cement factory.
. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

The Jabal Saraj cement factory.

A worker shovels coal.
. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

A worker shovels coal.

Workers sign attendance sheets as they arrive for work.
. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

Workers sign attendance sheets as they arrive for work.

Abdul Salaam, an electrician the factory, poses for a photograph.
. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

Abdul Salaam, an electrician the factory, poses for a photograph.

A man works in a laboratory.
. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

A man works in a laboratory.

Khuda Daad, head of the laboratory of the Jabal Saraj cement factory, poses for a photograph at his lab.
. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

Khuda Daad, head of the laboratory of the Jabal Saraj cement factory, poses for a photograph at his lab.

A cook prepares lunch.
. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

A cook prepares lunch.

Workers wait for lunch.
. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

Workers wait for lunch.

A worker poses for a photograph.
. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

A worker poses for a photograph.

Fazil Haq, 50, an employee at the factory, poses for a photograph.
. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

Fazil Haq, 50, an employee at the factory, poses for a photograph.

Dadullah works at a plant.
. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

Dadullah works at a plant.

Workers operate heavy machinery.
. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

Workers operate heavy machinery.

Sacks of cement lay at the factory.
. Jabal Saraj, AFGHANISTAN. Reuters/Ahmad Masood

Sacks of cement lay at the factory.