Minister of Petroleum Lays Foundation Stone for North Abu Qir Fertilizers Company and Inaugurates Industrial Wastewater Treatment unit (ZLD) at Abu Qir Fertilizers
Eng. Tarek El Molla, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, accompanied by Major General Mohamed El Sherif, Governor of Alexandria, laid the foundation stone for North Abu Qir Fertilizers Company, a project for the production of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, and inaugurated the Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) industrial wastewater treatment unit at Abu Qir Fertilizers. The unit is one of the largest of its kind and supports Egypt’s sustainability goals and global environmental standards.
Establishment of North Abu Qir Fertilizers Company
The minister presided over the founding general assembly of the new company, located on land owned by the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) adjacent to Abu Qir Fertilizers, with the attendance of all shareholders.
- Shareholding structure: Abu Qir Fertilizers & Chemical Industries (45%), EGPC (45%), Egyptian Holding Company for Petrochemicals (10%)
- Licensed capital: EGP 10 billion
- Paid-in capital: EGP 1 billion
- Production capacities: Ammonia 1,200 tons/day, Nitric Acid 1,830 tons/day, Ammonium Nitrate 2,400 tons/day
The minister emphasized that the new project strengthens Abu Qir Fertilizers’ role in the national economy, supports agricultural development, generates foreign currency through exports, and diversifies domestic fertilizer production. He also highlighted that the project is part of Egypt’s value-added natural resource initiatives, supported by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, and aligns with modern agricultural and industrial technologies to meet growing local and global demand.
Industrial Wastewater Treatment (ZLD) Unit
During the inauguration, the minister received a briefing on the ZLD unit, which treats and recycles industrial wastewater for agricultural use. The process produces a secondary product, ammonium sulfate, which enriches soil and accelerates organic fertilizer decomposition, serving as a natural fungicide.
The minister instructed immediate preparations for a second wastewater treatment unit, emphasizing the economic, environmental, and sustainability benefits of such projects for industrial compliance.
Inspection and Strategic Projects at Abu Qir Fertilizers
Eng. Tarek El Molla also attended the board meeting of Abu Qir Fertilizers, where he reviewed the company’s performance over the past nine months and its strategic initiatives, including:
- Expansion of fertilizer exports to 23 countries
- Local market supply to support Egypt’s agricultural sector
- Ongoing plant modernization and digital transformation projects
- Implementation of AI-powered SAP systems for operational efficiency
The minister toured the control room of Plant 3 for ammonia and urea production, observing the smart monitoring systems integrated for continuous institutional development.
He also visited the company’s first solar power station (117 kW) on the roof of the social club, which saves approximately EGP 250,000 annually and reduces CO₂ emissions by 175 tons/year, in line with Egypt’s renewable energy strategy. He praised Abu Qir Fertilizers’ efforts to expand renewable energy utilization across the company’s industrial operations and to monitor emissions through continuous environmental tracking systems.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
The minister commended Abu Qir Fertilizers’ community initiatives in Alexandria and Beheira, instructing the enhancement of CSR allocations and the immediate repair of access roads to the company.
During the visit, the governor presented the minister with a recognition shield for his ongoing contributions, while the Northern Military Region honored him with a ceremonial shield.
Attendance
The visit was attended by:
- Hany Dahy former minister of transport and board member
- Alaa El-Batal, CEO of EGPC, and his deputies for Planning and Projects, and Safety & Occupational Health
- Ibrahim Maki, Chairman of the Holding Company for Petrochemicals
- Alaa Hagar, Undersecretary of the Ministry’s Technical Office
- Hassanein Mohamed, Head of the Central Administration of the Minister’s Office
- Senior officials from the petroleum sector and members of Abu Qir Fertilizers’ board
