Egypt is set to host the Middle East’s first sodium cyanide production facility following a planned $200 million investment, marking a significant step in the country’s chemicals and mining supply chain.
The project will be developed by DrasChem Specialty Chemicals, a private free zone company, and will be located in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, according to a statement issued by the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI).
Once operational, the plant will have an annual production capacity of 50,000 tonnes of sodium cyanide, a critical input used in gold extraction. Development will take place in three phases, allowing for capacity expansion and product diversification over time.
Production under the first phase is expected to begin in 2028. The second phase will either double output or expand into the manufacture of sodium cyanide derivatives, while the third phase will focus on producing components for sodium-ion batteries, reflecting growing demand for alternative energy storage technologies.
GAFI chief executive Mohamed El Gawsaky said the project supports Egypt’s broader development agenda by boosting exports, transferring and localising advanced technologies, strengthening domestic manufacturing, and creating sustainable employment opportunities.
