Mohamed Farid Saleh, Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade held talks with representatives of Draschem to review progress on establishing the first sodium cyanide and derivatives production facility in Egypt and the Middle East, a project valued at about $200 million.
The planned plant will be located within a private free zone covering 157,000 square meters in the Nahda area of Alexandria, following approval granted by the Egyptian Cabinet in November 2024. Once completed, the project will become the second facility of its kind in Africa dedicated to the production of specialized chemicals, including sodium cyanide and related derivatives.
During the meeting, the minister emphasized that the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade places strong priority on localizing advanced and precision industries that help deepen domestic manufacturing and create new export opportunities.
Farid noted that the ministry will continue to closely monitor the completion of licensing procedures and legal requirements to ensure the project proceeds according to its planned timeline. He added that partnerships with international companies allow Egypt to benefit from advanced technologies and expertise, strengthening the country’s ability to adopt modern industrial processes and improve the operational efficiency of local factories.
The minister was also briefed on preventive measures adopted by the company to ensure full environmental compliance. Draschem has implemented globally recognized risk-assessment tools such as SAFETI and PHAST models for quantitative risk analysis.
In addition, the project will comply with the International Cyanide Management Code, an internationally recognized framework supported by institutions including the United Nations and the World Bank, ensuring the highest standards of safety and responsible operations.
Farid concluded the meeting by reaffirming the government’s commitment to providing all necessary facilitation for the company to finalize its licenses, stressing that Egypt supports investment projects that adopt advanced technologies while adhering to strict environmental responsibility.
Company officials, for their part, praised the ministry’s support and continuous follow-up on the project, noting that cooperation with government entities helps accelerate procedures and maintain the project’s implementation schedule. They added that the initiative will transfer advanced chemical manufacturing technology to Egypt and strengthen local expertise in specialized chemical industries, while maintaining full compliance with international safety and environmental standards.
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