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FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq (March 28, 2008) -
Revitalization of the Narhwan Brick Factory Complex has led to an
explosion of employment.
Since January, employment numbers at the complex have quadrupled
to nearly 15,000 workers, and production is up more than 500
percent.
Army Lt. Col. Mark Sullivan, commander of 1st Battalion, 10th
Field Artillery, said the boom resulted from a deal between the
Iraqi minister of oil and officials who represent the 167
businesses operating in the complex. Sullivan said the deal
allocated enough heavy fuel oil needed to fire up the kilns to bake
bricks for the complex to boost production.
"I merely facilitated and connected the owners with the Ministry
of Oil," said the native of Huntsville, Ala. "This was an Iraqi
problem in need of an Iraqi solution, and they did it."
Six years ago, the complex was at full operating capacity,
employing 25,000 Iraqis and producing nearly 8 million bricks per
day.
"In 2002, the brick factory owners were here; we weren't,"
Sullivan said. "The Iraqis best understand the potential at the
NBFC, and we are just helping them reach that potential."
Sullivan said the factory is crucial to reducing unemployment in
the region. In Iraqi culture, the eldest male in the family is
responsible to provide for his family; the NBFC offers that
opportunity to provide.
"When you help one family leader in Narhwan, you are helping 10,
because their families are so large," he said. "We saw a need for
employment, and the Iraqis fulfilled it. By having this factory
employ the populace, it makes our mission safer."
When 1-10 FA arrived in Narhwan in October, insurgents
controlled the NBFC. A series of offensive operations ousted the
insurgents, Sullivan said, returning the complex to its rightful
owners.
"The security situation now has reached a level where factory
owners and workers are comfortable enough to return to the NBFC and
stand the businesses back up," Sullivan said. "That's where we are
today with employment, and it has the potential to get better."
But the heavy fuel oil supply from the Iraqi government is
facing challenges, Sullivan said. "During March, allocations of HFO
to private enterprises ceased," he explained. "The owners are in
the process of trying to resolve it. They have figured it out
before; I am confident they will figure it out again."
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