Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade Tarek Kabil announced that the ministry has completed a study on “interest earned from using alternative fuel sources, an alternative to fossil fuel, for cement plants production in Egypt”. The study discussed the economic feasibility achieved in case the use of cement plants is increased from 6.4% to 30% during the coming 5 to 10 years. Kabil noted that the outcomes of the study are consistent with the strategy of both the ministries of Industry and the Environment in order to promote the domestic industry and taking into account the environmental requirements. In addition, saving energy and diversify energy used in different economic sectors, especially in the power-intensive industries such as cement.
The minister expects that the total consumption of cement plants from coal will reach 9.7 million tonnes annually by 2025.
He revealed that the ministry, in collabouration with the Ministry of Environment, will disseminate the outcomes of the study through the implementation of a number of experimental models in some governorates.
The increasing use of alternative fuel sources will participate in saving $50million annually by 2025, in addition to reducing the current emissions of carbon dioxide resulting from cement factories.
The study was conducted by the Ministry of Industry, International Finance Corporation, the Ministry of Environment and the Cement Division of the Building Materials Chamber at the Federation of Egyptian Industries. Moreover, the study was conducted through meetings with a sample of 14 cement plants, which constitutes 75% of cement plants that operate in the Egyptian market.
