Egypt, China’s CNCEC discusses speeding up Soda Ash, Red Sea Petrochemicals projects

Egypt’s petroleum minister and executives from China National Chemical Engineering Co. (CNCEC) discussed on Monday accelerating work on strategic industrial projects, including a soda ash plant in New Alamein and a petrochemicals complex in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Karim Badawy met CNCEC General Manager Deng Zhaojing to review progress on the projects, for which the Chinese company is serving as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor, the ministry said in a statement.

Badawy said the New Alamein Soda Ash Project would help localise production of a key industrial material that Egypt currently imports, while increasing local content and supporting domestic industry.

He said the Red Sea National Petrochemicals Company Complex would produce higher-value petroleum and petrochemical products, supporting Egypt’s efforts to expand downstream industries and strengthen its role as a regional hub for petroleum and petrochemical trade.

The projects form part of Egypt’s broader strategy to expand domestic manufacturing, attract industrial investment, and maximise the use of the country’s energy and logistics infrastructure.

Deng said strong Egypt-China relations provided a solid foundation for expanding cooperation, adding that CNCEC was executing and investing in several projects in Egypt, including the soda ash plant, the Red Sea National Petrochemicals Company Complex, and metallurgical silicon and bioethanol projects.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: Y.Yasser