Egypt has announced plans to establish a large-scale sodium cyanide production facility, described by officials as the first dedicated project of its kind in the Middle East, as part of efforts to expand exports and localise strategic chemical industries.
According to a statement from the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones, the project will be developed by DrasChem at the Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals Complex in Alexandria. The first phase is expected to involve initial investments of about $200 million and an annual production capacity of 50,000 tonnes, with commercial operations targeted for 2028.
Production will be directed primarily toward export markets and industrial uses linked to gold extraction, while also covering domestic demand. Project plans estimate potential annual export revenues of up to $120 million, subject to market conditions. Officials noted that the first phase’s output would exceed current local demand several times over, positioning Egypt as a potential regional supply hub.
The company is also studying further expansion phases, including higher production volumes, downstream derivatives and, over the longer term, the manufacture of components for sodium-ion batteries. While these later stages remain under evaluation, the project aligns with Egypt’s broader strategy to move up the value chain in specialty chemicals and strengthen its role in regional and African industrial exports.
