Reducing carbon emissions in the Egyptian cement industry

The EBRD, in cooperation with Egypt’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), the Chamber of Building Materials Industries/Cement Industry Association (CBMI) and the Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), presented a report in September 2016 containing recommendations for policy actions from the Egyptian government that may provide effective incentives for the cement industry to improve its energy efficiency and to reduce CO₂ emissions.

By phasing out the use of coal and making the switch to lower-carbon alternatives, by 2030 2.2 million tonnes of coal per year will no longer have to be imported, saving about US$ 200 million.

In parallel and in support of the general policy objectives, the Bank has been in discussions with a number of cement companies in Egypt to finance energy efficiency projects, including the use of alternative fuels and industrial energy efficiency investments, as well as on improved environmental, health and safety measures.