Cost of constructing metallic silicon complex in New Alamein reaches $700M

CAIRO - 27 September 2022: Head of the Egyptian Petrochemical Holding Company, Saad Helal, said that executive steps are being taken to establish a complex of metallic silicon and its derivatives, with an investment cost estimated at $700 million.

 

This came in a statement issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tuesday.

 

Helal stressed the importance of the project, which will be built in the industrial zone of New Alamein, in bridging the import gap of silicon, which supports the strategy of optimal exploitation of natural resources and maximizing their added value.

 

“Polysilicon has many uses in the manufacture of solar cells and electronic chips, and it achieves a very high added value from its production and sale, more than 20 times compared to the raw material,” Helal said.

 

He explained that the domestic production of petrochemicals increased from 2.1 million tons per year in the 2015/2016 fiscal year to 4.3 million tons per year by the end of the 2022/2021 fiscal year.