Egyptian petrochemicals group Egyptian Ethylene and Derivatives Co. (ETHYDCO) has started a $1,9 billion plastics and chemicals complex to manufacture polyethylene products in Alexandria, Egypt.
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi was on hand to launch the plant described as among the most important projects in the national plan for the sector.
The Alexandra complex will provide materials for several complementary industries in Egypt, which will allow the region to rely on local production, rather than exports, the company said in a news release,
With an ethylene capacity of 460,000 metric tons per year, the complex is equipped with a dedicated 200,000 tonnes per year high density PE line and a swing line to produce 200,000 tonnes annually of either linear low density PE or HDPE polymers. There is also a 20,000 tonnes per year line to manufacture butadiene.
ETHYDCO supplies a range of different plastics for applications including injection molding, film, blow molding, pipe production and rotational molding.
The company recently appointed a new distributor in Spain for its polyethylene products. Plast Alacant of San Vicente de Raspeig in Spain will handle the sales of HDPE and LLDPE products in Spain and Portugal.
The Spanish distributor opened a new 6,600 tonnes per year base with offices and more warehouse space early this year.
Egypt's petroleum sector owns eight large petrochemicals projects with investments worth almost $2.4 billion and a total capacity of about 4.5 million tonnes per year. The projects are located in four regions including Port Said, Suez, Damietta and Alexandria.
In 2016, annual industry production of polymers in Egypt is expected to reach 1.3 million tonnes and is forecast to double by 2021, according to the group.