Huge investment forecast in Egypt’s coal industry

Egypt’s coal industry is set to get an investment of US$30 billion in the next five years, according to reports. Speaking at a conference on coal use in Egypt, Investment Minister Ashraf Salman said that there is a ‘full coordination’ between the ministries of environment, electricity and investment in terms of meeting international environmental standards when burning coal.

Given the gas shortage in Egypt, the government ruled last month that coal imports could only take place after approval from the Ministry of Environment, having initially approved the use of coal to generate energy in April 2014. Coal is allowed for cement, iron and steel, coke and aluminium production, and for use in power plants. Coal importers will require authorisation to be renewed every two years.

Several cement companies have already invested in modifying their process to use coal. Also speaking at the conference was the Head of the Industrial Development Authority, Ismail Gaber, who said that 90% of cement plants have agreed to use coal in their production and that the Industrial Development Authority is supporting projects to modify the plants accordingly.

Edited from various sources by Katherine Guenioui

Sources:

• AllAfrica
• Zawya
• MENAFN

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/africa-middle-east/13052015/huge-investment-forecast-in-egypt-coal-industry-828/