Egypt to host first sodium cyanide manufacturing plant

The facility will be established by DrasChem Specialty Chemicals, a private free-zone company, at the Sidi Kerir Petrochemical Complex west of Alexandria, according to GAFI.

Production is scheduled to begin in 2028, following completion of the first of three planned phases. Sodium cyanide is primarily used in gold extraction.

The project was announced during a meeting between GAFI chief Mohamed el-Gawsaky and a DrasChem delegation.

DrasChem, a recently established company, has Austria’s Petrochemical Holding GmbH as its largest shareholder and has received cabinet approval to operate under Egypt’s special free-zone system.

The second phase of the project is expected to double sodium cyanide output and introduce additional derivative products, while a third phase would include the manufacture of sodium-ion battery components.

El-Gawsaky said the project supports Egypt’s development priorities, including boosting exports, localizing advanced technology, expanding domestic manufacturing, and creating jobs.

Egypt aims to raise annual exports to $115.8 billion by 2030 as part of efforts to narrow the trade deficit and reduce reliance on imports.

Manufacturing and energy are among the government’s priority sectors, with a focus on export-oriented production and advanced and green technologies.