Iraq — 5,000-Ton Cold-Chain Logistics Cold Storage
Feasibility-stage EPC design for a modern 5,000-ton public cold-chain logistics hub near Basra Port — built to close Iraq's critical shortage of professional low-temperature storage for imported food, local produce and pharmaceuticals.
- 5,000 t / 8,000 m²
- -25℃ to +8℃
- 12 months
- 2025
Background And Requirement
This project delivers a modern cold-chain logistics cold storage in Iraq with a total capacity of 5,000 tons of refrigerated goods. It covers roughly 15,000 m² of land with about 8,000 m² of building area, integrating four functional modules — low-temperature freezer, constant-temperature chiller, sorting and processing area, and logistics turnover area — alongside supporting office and living space. Once operational it provides integrated low-temperature storage, sorting and distribution for Iraq's fresh produce, imported food and pharmaceutical products.
Iraq's situation has gradually stabilised and post-war reconstruction is underway. GDP exceeded US$200 billion in 2023 with per-capita GDP above US$5,000, and the food and fresh-produce market is expanding at a compound annual rate above 8%. Over 90% of the country's fresh fruit, meat and seafood is imported, yet national large-scale cold-storage capacity sits below 100,000 tons and is largely ageing — leaving a severe shortage of professional cold-chain facilities.
The facility addresses four pressing needs: cutting Iraq's post-harvest fresh-produce loss rate, currently above 35% against a 10% global average; supporting the more than 2 million tons of fresh produce imported each year; extending the sales window for recovering local agriculture such as dates, citrus, beef and mutton; and providing constant-temperature storage for imported vaccines, biologics and pharmaceuticals.
Total annual cold-chain demand in Iraq exceeds 140,000 tons against a supply gap above 80,000 tons, and demand is forecast to grow 12–15% a year to surpass 250,000 tons by 2029. A 5,000-ton facility captures a first-mover position with clear room to expand in later phases.
The recommended site is the logistics park near Basra Port — Iraq's largest maritime port, handling over 70% of imported fresh produce. It lies roughly 15 km from the port yard and 3 km from main highway trunk lines, with ample industrial land, restored utilities and government incentives for the port logistics sector.
Project Facts
| Location | Basra, Iraq |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 5,000 t / 8,000 m² |
| Temperature | -25℃ to +8℃ |
| Programme | 12 months |
| Completed | 2025 |
| Sector | Export / International |
A 15,000 m² site with 8,000 m² of building area integrating a low-temperature freezer, constant-temperature chiller, dedicated pharmaceutical room and sorting/turnover areas — engineered specifically for Iraq's high-temperature, unstable-grid operating conditions.
How The Project Was Delivered
- 01
Building & Insulation Structure
Frame structure clad in 150 mm polyurethane double-sided colour-steel panels rated for Iraq's high-temperature environment. High-temperature-, frost- and moisture-resistant flooring; insulated lightweight-steel roof to limit solar gain; electric sliding insulated doors with air curtains; and rapid loading/unloading platforms for refrigerated trucks.
- 02
Refrigeration & Temperature Control
Screw-type parallel refrigeration units sized 15% above standard conditions for 50℃ summer peaks. Fully automatic zoned temperature control to ±1℃, abnormal-temperature alarms with remote real-time monitoring, and evaporative condensers for heat rejection in high-ambient conditions.
- 03
Supporting Facilities
Grid connection backed by a 1,000 kW standby diesel generator that auto-starts within 10 minutes; municipal water supply with on-site sewage treatment; international-standard fire protection; and full-area security with intrusion monitoring suited to the local environment.
- 04
Implementation — 12 Months
Months 1–2: approvals, land transfer and survey/design. Month 3: construction drawings, bidding and equipment ordering. Months 4–8: main structure and cold-store envelope. Months 9–10: refrigeration installation and commissioning. Month 11: acceptance and training. Month 12: operation.
What Was Supplied
- Screw-type parallel refrigeration units (15% oversized for 50℃ ambient)
- Evaporative condensers for high-temperature heat rejection
- 150 mm polyurethane double-sided colour-steel insulation panels
- Electric sliding insulated cold-store doors with air curtains
- Fully automatic zoned temperature control (±1℃)
- Abnormal-temperature alarm with remote real-time monitoring
- 1,000 kW standby diesel generator (10-minute auto-start)
- Dry-powder fire-suppression and smoke-alarm system
- 24-hour security and intrusion-monitoring system
- Environmentally-friendly R507 refrigerant
Results At Handover
Annual Revenue
At full capacity — storage fees plus sorting, handling and distribution value-added services.
Net Profit / Year
After income tax, once the facility reaches roughly 90% utilisation in year three.
Payback Period
Static payback including the one-year build; dynamic payback 8–10 years at an 8% discount rate.
Facility Configuration
| Functional Zone | Building Area | Storage Capacity | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-temperature freezer | 3,200 m² | 3,000 t | -18℃ to -25℃ |
| Constant-temperature cold storage | 2,400 m² | 1,600 t | 0℃ to 8℃ |
| Pharmaceutical constant-temp warehouse | 400 m² | 400 t | 2℃ to 8℃ |
| Sorting, processing & logistics turnover | 1,400 m² | — | Room temperature |
| Supporting office & living areas | 600 m² | — | Room temperature |
Photographs From Site
Questions About This Project
How large is the Iraq project?
5,000 t / 8,000 m², located in Basra, Iraq.
What temperature does the facility operate at?
-25℃ to +8℃.
How long did the project take?
12 months, completed 2025.
What equipment was supplied?
Key items included screw-type parallel refrigeration units (15% oversized for 50℃ ambient); evaporative condensers for high-temperature heat rejection; 150 mm polyurethane double-sided colour-steel insulation panels. Full equipment lists are issued with the design pack.
Can Howcool deliver a similar facility for us?
Yes. Send your storage volume or tonnage, target temperature, product type and site location, and our engineers will return a preliminary design and budget estimate within 48 hours.
Products From This Project Type
PU / PIR Cold Room Panels
Cam-Lock and Plug-in sandwich panels with polyurethane core and color-coated steel. 15-20 year lifetime.
PIR Fire-Rated Cold Room Panels
Polyisocyanurate (PIR) sandwich panels with B1-grade fire rating. Required for food processing, pharma and high-fire-risk applications.
Blast Freezer & Low-Temp Panels
Heavy-thickness panels for blast freezers, IQF rooms and ultra-low-temperature applications down to −40°C.
Embossed Aluminium Floor Panels
Walkable cold-storage floor panels with embossed aluminium tread surface. Forklift-rated insulation for cold room floors.
Similar Facilities We Have Built
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New Zealand — Nuclear Power Plant Cold Storage
Nuclear facility cold storage — New Zealand. High-reliability redundant refrigeration.
Pakistan — Nuclear Power Plant Cold Storage
Nuclear power plant cold storage — high-reliability redundant design.
Planning Something Similar
Send your volume, temperature, product type and location. Our engineers respond within 24 hours with a preliminary design.