Neric to manufacture 21 Alexandria Metro trains: The National Egyptian Railway Industries Company (Neric) will locally manufacture 21 trains — comprising of 189 train cars — for the Alexandria Metro under a EUR 275 mn 38-month contract signed yesterday between the company and the National Authority for Tunnels (NAT), according to a cabinet statement. The agreement covers spare parts and equipment supplies, as well as 10 years of maintenance, including one major overhaul.

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The contract is the latest in a string of agreements between the Transport Ministry and Neric to localize rail manufacturing as part of a broader strategy to turn the country into a regional industrial hub. Neric was tapped in 2022 to produce 40 metro trains for lines 2 and 3 of the Cairo Metro in partnership with South Korean railway equipment manufacturer Hyundai Rotem under a USD 656 mn contract.

More on the way: Neric is also in talks with the Transport Ministry and a global transport firm to locally manufacture 500 train wagons, the statement read without providing any details.

A WHOLE LOTTA NEW PROJECTS IN WEST PORT SAID PORT-

#1- A dry bulk wheat terminal: Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly inaugurated a EGP 1 bn dry bulk wheat terminal in East Port Said Port, according to a separate statement. The terminal includes eight silos with a 100k tons storage capacity and can handle up to 36 ships annually.

Part of the gov’t silo expansion strategy: The project broke ground in 2021 as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to expand its wheat storage capacity and reduce waste. It was designed to ease pressure on existing port silos in Damietta, Dekheila, Alexandria, and Safaga and was backed by USD 538 mn in food security funding from the UAE, the Saudi Fund for Development, France, and multilateral lenders.

Behind the silos: The silos were set up by Elsewedy Electric subsidiary Rowad Modern Engineering, with the aim of strengthening Egypt’s food security. The project will increase the country’s annual wheat handling capacity by up to 2 mn tons, reduce wheat losses, and speed up ship unloading and storage times, Rowad said in a press release.

East Port Said project up next: Rowad CEO Mohamed Mahlab said the company is building another grain silo project in East Port Said with a capacity of 120k tons. He added that Rowad is looking into setting up similar projects across the Middle East and Africa.

#2- Abbas Berth reopened following upgrade: Madbouly yesterday inaugurated the upgraded Abbas Berth at West Port Said Port after it underwent a EGP 1.8 bn overhaul, according to a statement.

The 670-meter-long revamped berth can now receive vessels at a depth of up to 14 meters — enhancing the port’s operational efficiency. It also comes with a new 18k sqm back area with an 8-ton/sqm load capacity.

#3- A new liquid bulk terminal: Madbouly also inaugurated a EGP 1.6 bn liquid bulk terminal — operated by local chemicals storage player New Horizon Tank Terminal — at West Port Said Port, according to a statement.

The details: The terminal — which spans 15.7k sqm — includes 27 tanks with a total storage capacity of 51.2k cbm. The facility is designed to accommodate liquid bulk vessels with capacities of over 20k tons, and is expected to handle 310k tons annually. The terminal is projected to receive between 48 to 70 vessels each year.

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