Egypt’s SCZone breaks ground on its first green chemical plant: Egypt’s first green chemicals plant is officially under construction, after China’s Binhua Group — or Befar — broke ground on their USD 500 mn chlor-alkali production facility in the China-Egypt TEDA trade zone, according to a statement issued on Tuesday. The new project — whose agreement was signed last September — is set to rely on a mix of solar power, wind energy, electricity, and natural gas for its energy needs

About the project: The facility — spanning 400k sqm — will manufacture chlor-alkali with a forecasted maximum production capacity of 100k tons, according to the statement. The first phase is earmarked to cost USD 300 mn and is scheduled for completion within 18 months, while the second phase has an investment ticket of USD 200 mn.

Bolstering Egypt’s localization and import-substitution efforts: The factory is good news for the country’s import bill and localization efforts, given all the things produced through the chlor-alkali process used in the factory, such as chlorine gas, hydrogen gas, and sodium hydroxide. These key chemicals are used in numerous industries and everyday items. For example, Chlorine is used to purify water and make plastics, sodium hydroxide can be used to make paper, soap, and textiles, while hydrogen is used in fertilizers, refining crude oil, and more. “From an economic standpoint, the project opens up wide prospects for downstream and complementary industries, while enhancing Egypt’s capacity to secure its needs for strategic products used across various vital sectors,” said SCZone head Walid Gamal El Din.

About Binhua (Befar) Group: The firm — established in 1968 — specializes in chemicals, petrochemicals, and new energy solutions. Befar dominates the Chinese markets for several products — including allyl chloride, granular caustic soda, and caustic soda flakes, exporting its products to over 100 countries.

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