Egypt: Jose Maria Magrina, chief executive officer of Arabian Cement Company (ACC), has asked the Egyptian government to help cement producers move to using coal and alternative fuels. In an announcement Magrina explained that ACC is ready to substitute all the natural gas used at its 5Mt/yr cement plant in Ain Sokhna to coal and refuse derived fuel (RDF) and had applied for the necessary government permits to do so on 14 March 2013. However until late May 2013 no answer had been received from the government.

"The investment needed to substitute natural gas or mazot (heavy duty fuel oil) with coal ranges from US$6-8m/Mt, while converting to RDF costs around US$8-12m/Mt. However for private companies to be encouraged to commit to such a huge investment, the government should look into incentivising this initiative by putting together a solid policy that includes governmental support," commented Magrina.

Magrina added that the government should remove the operating license fee imposed on new companies, as this was intended to cover the cost of subsidised natural gas, and that it should be granted an environmental permit. ACC is still waiting for the permit to use coal, which will replace 70% of its gas supply. Once the company is granted the permit, it will be ready to make the conversion by the fourth quarter of 2013.

Since February 2013, energy shortages have caused the cement industry in Egypt a loss of 20% (3.7Mt) in production capacity, while ACC has lost 25% (350,000t) of its cement production capacity in the same period. Losses of over 50% are expected during the summer of 2013. Until late 2010, the Egyptian government encouraged cement producers to switch to using natural gas. However, the current energy crisis has seen the government promote the use of coal and alternative fuels instead.