The six new plants will involve an investment of $145 million. Nile Valley Cement Company will make the largest investment, of E£ 251 million ($46 million), for a plant at Beni Suef. The other licences have been awarded to El-Sewedy Group for a plant at Suez, Al-Arabiya al-Wataniya at Al-Minya; Al-Nahda Industries at Qena; North Sinai Company in North Sinai; and Egypt Kuwait Holding at Assiut.

Beni Suef Cement, a subsidiary of France’s Lafarge, will invest £E 134.5 million ($24 million) and Mexico-based Cemex will spend £E 202 million to expand their existing plants.