Spatial analysis of raw materials and their role in industrial development (Zliten area case study)

Abstract

Though the spatial distribution of many industrial activities shows close and necessary relationships to the location of raw materials, this applies particularly to industries in which raw materials are heavy and bulky. This proposition does not apply to many kinds of manufacturing industries. Much has been contributed by growth in transportation to freeing industry from reliance on the physical location of raw materials. The key element which, in a fundamental sense, warrants sustainability in manufacturing is related to the availability of raw materials and their flow to industrial plants, regardless of their location. In this paper, the research will be focused on the city of Zliten with an aim of establishing how much influence or correlation exists between the mentioned issue, as indicated in the findings that show an even stronger correlation in some cases, including those where construction materials were directly represented. However, from the findings, this level of correlation can hardly be established in other forms of industries, which were influenced by other factors and did not, in any significant measure, relate to the aspect of raw materials. This is, on its own, an indicator that it is not the key aspect that determines the localization of industry. Moreover, the study also investigates the role of raw materials in terms of their availability in the region. Among its objectives are identifying the industrial sectors dependent on the raw materials, identifying the distance between industrial sites and their corresponding raw materials, finding out the contribution of raw material costs to the general production costs, transportation costs, and identifying the challenges facing the manufacturing processes involving raw materials. Finally, the study establishes conclusions and recommendations that may play an important role in facilitating proper planning towards the achievement of sustainable industrial growth in the region.