Khaberni - Minister of Environment Dr. Ayman Sulaiman, on Tuesday, conducted an inspection tour of the Sanabel Paper and Cardboard Manufacturing Plant to assess the technical and operational readiness of the project before its operational phase, as part of the ministry's interest in supporting national industries based on environmental sustainability, in line with the targets of the economic modernization vision led by His Majesty King Abdullah II.
Sulaiman praised the advanced level the factory has reached, especially in the field of recycling and operational efficiency, appreciating its commitment to environmental standards and its role in reducing the environmental impact of industry, emphasizing the importance of enhancing the culture of sustainability in the industrial sector and supporting initiatives that combine economic development and environmental protection.
The visit began with a field tour inside the factory facilities, during which the minister observed the integrated industrial production system, starting with receiving paper and cardboard waste from domestic or industrial consumption, followed by stages of sorting and purification, then mixing to transform used paper into a paper pulp suitable for re-manufacturing, followed by molding, drying, and final processing to produce rolls of paper, cardboard, and sanitary paper with precise industrial specifications.
The project relies on a closed-loop manufacturing system, an industrial model that reintroduces waste into the production cycle instead of discarding it, achieving the highest levels of resource utilization and reducing waste, and practically embodies the concept of the circular economy based on reuse and maximizing added value, which aligns with the economic modernization vision forming a national roadmap for comprehensive and sustainable growth through supporting industrial investment and enhancing competitiveness and expanding job opportunities for youth and women, in line with the national direction towards a low-emission green economy, according to the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein.
The factory produces raw materials used in the packaging industry, such as kraft paper used in manufacturing boxes, linerboard which forms the outer layer of cardboard, corrugating medium that provides strength and durability to cardboard, in addition to top white paper and sanitary paper products. It is expected that upon full operation, the project will become a national source for these materials, enabling factories and companies in the packaging and converting industries to rely on locally manufactured materials at full capacity, thus contributing to reducing import costs and minimizing fluctuations linked to shipping prices and external supply chains, and enhancing the cost stability of the national industry.
Furthermore, the minister explored the industrial water treatment system based on impurity separation technology using fine air bubbles, which allows for the reuse of water within the production process and reduces the consumption of fresh water, alongside advanced digital systems for quality monitoring that ensure the technical specifications and operational performance efficiency.
Engineer Mahmoud Khatib, Chairman of the Factory Board, affirmed that the factory plays a significant environmental role by recycling large amounts of paper and cardboard waste and reintroducing it into the industrial process to produce new high-quality products, thereby reducing waste, preserving natural resources, and supporting the principles of the circular economy.
The Executive Director Engineer Ahmed Khatib expressed his appreciation for this visit, considering it as support for the national industry and encouragement for efforts made in the field of environmental protection and the development of recycling-based industries.
The project represents a qualitative addition to the manufacturing sector in the kingdom, alongside being a pioneering idea in the region by transforming paper waste into production inputs with economic value, enhancing reliance on local resources, and expanding national supply chains in areas of waste collection, sorting, transportation, and logistics.
Upon commencement of operations, the factory is expected to provide direct job opportunities in fields of industrial engineering, technical operation, maintenance, quality control, and environmental management, in addition to creating indirect job opportunities in supporting sectors, thereby enhancing its developmental impact on the national level.
The project comes within the national direction towards empowering value-added productive industries, enhancing industrial self-sufficiency, and accelerating the transition towards more sustainable and efficient manufacturing, practically translating the vision of His Majesty the King into building a competitive production economy based on innovation and job creation.
The visit falls under the framework of monitoring the readiness level of modern industrial projects that rely on recycling as one of the strategic pathways to achieve sustainable development and enhance environmental responsibility in the kingdom.
