Austria’s RHI Magnesita studies Egypt refractory plant – industry ministry

Austrian manufacturer RHI Magnesita is studying plans to build an integrated refractory manufacturing plant in Egypt, the Ministry of Industry said Tuesday, as the government seeks to expand local production of materials used in heavy industry.

Industry Minister Khaled Hashem discussed the proposed investment with Hakimuddin Ali, the company’s President for the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa, during a meeting on opportunities to expand refractory manufacturing in Egypt.

The proposed facility would produce refractory materials used in heavy industries including steel, cement, aluminium, copper, and glass, sectors the government considers critical to supporting industrial development and infrastructure projects.

Hashem said the project supports Egypt’s updated Industry Strategy 2030, which identifies refractory manufacturing as a strategic supporting industry for construction materials, metallurgical products and engineering industries.

He said the investment would help localise advanced manufacturing technologies, strengthen the competitiveness of Egyptian industrial products, reduce import dependence, and meet growing domestic demand while serving export markets across the Middle East.

“The Egyptian market has become an attractive destination for leading global heavy industry companies that rely on advanced technologies,” the minister said.

The two sides also reviewed RHI Magnesita’s integrated production model, which spans raw materials, manufacturing, recycling, and digital industrial solutions.

Ali said Egypt is one of the company’s most important markets in the Middle East due to the availability of high-purity raw materials used in refractory production, adding that the proposed investment would support the company’s strategy to serve industrial customers across the region.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English