US-based Bechtel has been awarded two contracts by Egypt’s Carbon Holdings for the management and construction of petrochemicals projects in Ain Sokhna.

Under one contract Bechtel will provide project management services for the Tahrir Petrochemicals Complex, overseeing execution at what will be the largest petrochemicals complex in Egypt.

Bechtel will also design, build and procure all the equipment and materials for the polypropylene production expansion at the complex’s existing Oriental Petrochemicals site.

“Approximately 20,000 Egyptians will be directly employed during the peak construction phase with approximately 3,000 engineers and technicians being employed during the operations phase,” Basil el-Baz, the chairman and CEO of Carbon Holdings

“This new petrochemical plant will produce the basic materials that shall facilitate the domestic manufacturing of some of the most basic products that are required for the industrialisation process,” he added. “This project shall effectively increase Egypt’s overall exports by an estimated 110 per cent.”

The $10bn project is operated by Tahrir Petrochemicals Corporation, which is owned by Carbon Holdings.

The project is split across three sites, and comprises a naphtha cracker, associated derivatives units, and three polyethylene units.

Two additional polypropylene units at the existing Oriental Petrochemicals plant, a new port tank farm, and marine facilities will also be built as part of the project.