Befar Group (Binhua), the Chinese chemical giant, has broken ground on a $500 million chlor-alkali facility in Egypt’s Sokhna Industrial Zone.
The project, which will be located in the TEDA-Egypt industrial park, will have a total production capacity of 100,000 tons, according to a news release from SCZONE.
According to the announcement, the project will be developed in two phases, each encompassing 200,000 square meters (sqm), with $300 million dedicated to the first and $200 million to the second.
The initial phase of construction is planned to be completed within 18 months.
According to the announcement, the facility will become Egypt’s first green chemical factory, using a combination of wind and solar energy, electricity, and natural gas to generate steam for operations.
According to Waleid Gamal El-Dien, Chairman of SCZONE, the initiative is intended to produce approximately 800 employment and will help to reduce imports and localize vital industries.
“This project is part of an integrated system for mineral extraction from seawater, including the production of bromine and other supporting and feeder industries,” he added.
Yinghui Cai, Vice President of Befar Group, welcomed the assistance of SCZONE, TEDA-Egypt, and project partners, stating that the company currently exports to over 100 countries and holds leading positions in the Chinese market for items such as allyl chloride, trichloroethylene, and caustic soda.
The project agreement was signed in September 2024, during SCZONE’s investment promotion visit in conjunction with the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).