Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, inspected the early operational status of the soda ash and derivatives production complex located in the New Alamein City Industrial Zone. Operated under the Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM), the project is set to produce 600,000 tons of soda ash per year in its first phase.
During his visit, Badawi witnessed the launch of preliminary works at the site and received a detailed briefing from Ibrahim Meki, Chairman of ECHEM, and Shahir Reda, Chairman of the Egyptian Soda Ash Company (ESAC). They outlined the work progress, project scope, and implementation plan agreed upon with the general contractor, China Tianchen Engineering Corporation (TTC) of China.
Badawi emphasized that the project will contribute to the optimal exploitation of mineral resources and maximize their added value, particularly limestone, the main input for manufacturing soda ash. The minister confirmed that the project enjoys full support and continuous follow-up from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, given its role in localizing high-value chemical industries.
Soda ash represents major added value to the Egyptian economy by localizing the industry of products used in various sectors such as glass, detergents, paper, food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. The project aims to replace a large portion of imports and reduce the import bill.
The Cabinet granted ESAC, affiliated with ECHEM, a golden license in November to establish and operate a factory for the manufacture and production of soda ash and its derivatives spanning an area of 1.12 million square meters. The factory is expected to be completed by mid-2027, with an investment cost exceeding $680 million.
In a major step toward financing the project, ESAC signed an Agreement in Principle (AIP) in August with a consortium of national and regional financial institutions, securing an estimated $490 million to support the project’s development.
