Egypt seeks to accelerate progress on chemicals facility
26 November 2025
Egypt’s government is attempting to accelerate progress on the country’s $680m project to develop a new soda ash production facility.
The country’s cabinet has granted state-owned Egyptian Soda Ash Company a so-called “golden licence” to develop the plant, which will also produce derivatives of soda ash.
The golden licence is a single approval given by the cabinet that consolidates multiple permits into one, in an effort to speed up project progress.
The golden licence includes permits relating to land allocation, construction, operation and management of the project.
In February this year, China National Chemical Corporation was appointed as the main contractor for the project.
The plant is set to produce 600,000 tonnes of soda ash and derivatives annually, making it one of the largest industrial projects of its kind in the region.
The project is being developed on a 1.12 million-square-metre plot in the industrial zone of New Alamein City.
It will create 600 direct jobs and 2,000 indirect jobs, according to a statement from the cabinet.
The factory is expected to be completed by mid-2027, with an investment cost exceeding $680m.
Soda ash is a basic, alkaline industrial chemical used in large volumes worldwide.
The project aims to meet local market demand for soda ash and to expand related industries, such as glass, detergents, paper, metals and pharmaceuticals.
The local component of production inputs will be no less than 50% per tonne of the finished product, in terms of both value and quantity.
Egyptian Soda Ash Company is a subsidiary of Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (Echem), which was established in 2002 to develop, manage and expand the North African country’s petrochemicals sector.
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The request for qualifications (RFQs) was issued by the municipality’s Sewerage and Recycled Water Projects Department (SRPD).
The bid submission deadline is 26 February.
The first scheme under the package is TF-16-C1, which involves upgrading and rehabilitating the stormwater system east of the Dubai Canal.
The second, TF-15-C2, will deliver stormwater links along Umm Suqeim Road to serve the Al-Barsha and Al-Quoz communities.
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In January, local firm DeTech Contracting won the main contract to construct a stormwater drainage system in Jebel Ali.
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Modon tenders Ras El-Hekma construction contracts
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Abu Dhabi-based developer Modon Holding has tendered several contracts as part of the first phase of development at Ras El-Hekma, a planned new city on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast.
MEED understands that the tenders were issued in January.
These include:
DP3 assets: covering 146 residential villas, 590 three-bedroom townhouses, 356 four-bedroom townhouses, a mall and other associated works.
Bids due on 23 February.
DP4 assets: DP4 includes 54 villas, a clubhouse and other associated infrastructure.
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DP7 assets: 120 five-bedroom villas, 230 seven-bedroom villas, 284 branded residential units and other infrastructural works.
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Modon has accelerated development works at Ras El-Hekma this year. In January, MEED reported that Modon Holding had awarded a E£15bn ($316m) contract for the construction of a project at Ras El-Hekma.
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The scope of the contract covers the construction of residential units, commercial facilities and a 70-key hotel.
In September, MEED reported that Modon Holding had tendered contracts for the infrastructure works for the first phase of the Ras El-Hekma project.
As part of the first phase, Modon plans to develop more than 50 million square metres (sq m), including hotels and a marina.
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Last year, Abu Dhabi-based holding company ADQ appointed Modon Holding as the master developer for the Ras El-Hekma project.
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The signing ceremony was held at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority headquarters in Aqaba on 5 February.
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Aqaba port handles about 80% of Jordan’s exports and 65% of its imports.
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In 2025, the terminal handled over 5.3 million tonnes of cargo and nearly 85,000 car equivalent units of Ro-Ro imports.
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The announcement followed AD Ports Group’s signing of a shareholders’ agreement in January 2024 between its digital arm, Maqta Gateway, and Jordan’s Aqaba Development Corporation regarding their existing joint-venture company, Maqta Ayla.
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Chinese firm wins Ceer automotive supplier park deal
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Beijing-headquartered Metallurgical Construction Corporation (MCC) has won a contract to undertake the steel structure works on the Ceer automotive supplier park in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC).
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