Egypt is moving to establish the first sodium cyanide production facility in the Middle East, in a US$200 million project aimed at boosting local industrial capabilities, officials said Friday.
Khaled Hashem, Minister of Industry, met with a delegation from DrasChem Specialized Chemicals, led by CEO Mohamed Abdel Aziz, to discuss plans for the plant, which will be located within the Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals Company complex.
The facility, to be developed in phases on an 80,000-square-metre plot, will ultimately cover 157,000 square metres, with the company’s initial capital set at $10 million. Total investment in the project is estimated at $200 million. Once operational, it is expected to produce 50,000 to 55,000 tonnes of sodium cyanide annually.
Egyptian authorities said the project would generate roughly 500 direct jobs, in addition to indirect employment across related supply chains, and serve as a platform to transfer global chemical manufacturing expertise to local professionals.
Hashem described the plant as a pioneering initiative for Egypt and the Middle East, saying it aligns with the state’s strategy to localise advanced industrial technologies, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and create opportunities for specialised exports. “This project could act as a catalyst for innovation and sustainable industrial production,” he said.
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The minister emphasized adherence to strict environmental and technological safety standards. He instructed company officials to coordinate with the Industrial Efficiency Authority to train Egyptian professionals, ensuring knowledge transfer and building national industrial capacity.
Abdel Aziz said the facility would be the first of its kind in Egypt, Africa, and the Middle East, positioning Egypt as the first country in the Middle East and North Africa, and the second in Africa, to produce sodium cyanide locally. He noted partnerships with global petrochemical companies in Austria and the Czech Republic as key to transferring advanced technologies.
Sodium cyanide is a critical input for industries including precious metals mining, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture, particularly in the manufacture of pesticides, the delegation said.
Abdel Aziz also praised Egypt’s investment climate, highlighting the government’s consultative approach before implementing economic projects, which he said is attracting high-value industrial and technological investments to the country.
The project reflects Egypt’s broader industrial development strategy, which seeks to deepen local manufacturing capabilities, promote high-tech industries, and reduce dependence on imports for strategic industrial chemicals.
Analysts said the move could strengthen Egypt’s position as a regional hub for specialised chemical production and boost its exports to other Middle East and African markets.
The plant’s development is expected to follow rigorous environmental assessments and international safety standards, underscoring the government’s commitment to sustainable industrial growth.
With Africa’s industrial sector growing and global demand for key chemical inputs rising, Egypt’s sodium cyanide plant is seen as a strategic investment to support mining, pharmaceutical, and agricultural sectors while fostering technological transfer and skilled employment.
The project is scheduled to begin construction in the coming months, with officials aiming for phased operational launches to meet both domestic and regional demand for sodium cyanide and its derivatives.
Sodium cyanide is a highly toxic chemical widely used in industrial processes, particularly in gold and silver mining for extracting precious metals, as well as in the pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors for certain pesticide production. Most countries in Africa and the Middle East currently import sodium cyanide, as local production is limited due to technical complexity, environmental and safety concerns, and high capital costs.
Egypt has long pursued a strategy to strengthen its local industrial base and reduce dependency on imported chemical inputs, particularly in high-value sectors. The country’s petrochemical and chemical industries are concentrated in industrial zones such as Sidi Kerir, Alexandria, which hosts several multinational partnerships and advanced manufacturing facilities.
Regional demand for sodium cyanide is growing, driven by mining expansions in Africa and industrial development across the Middle East. Experts say establishing a local production facility would not only meet domestic demand but also create opportunities for exports, position Egypt as a regional hub, and facilitate knowledge transfer in advanced chemical technologies.
Environmental and safety considerations are central to any cyanide production project. International standards require strict containment, monitoring, and emergency response protocols due to the chemical’s toxicity. Governments and companies in Africa and the Middle East have historically been cautious about large-scale cyanide plants, making Egypt’s proposed project pioneering in the region.
