The Egyptian Ethylene and Derivatives Company (ETHYDCO) plans to build a $100-million polybutadiene rubbers factors, Egypt Oil & Gas reports.

The factory is part of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources’ plan to produce more value-added petrochemical products instead of exporting low-value crude.

The factory will have the capacity to produce up to 36,000 tons of polybutadiene rubbers, according to a report by Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM) to the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El Molla.

Actual production from the factory will depend on the availability of butadiene.

Bidding for the project will begin in the first quarter of 2018. Nexenta conducted feasibility studies for the project.