UK company to turn Egypt’s infamous landfill into public park

• Polar Hydro invests up to $860m
• 30m tonnes of waste
• Part of nationwide project

Egypt’s most infamous landfill will be converted into a sustainable public green park in a multibillion-dollar project that also includes fertiliser and biofuel industries.

The UK’s Polar Hydro company will initially invest up to $860 million in the project, which will handle nearly 5,000 tonnes of waste per day and a total of 30 million tonnes that have piled up over decades in Shabramant in Giza governorate near the capital, Cairo.

Polar Hydro confirmed the investment in the landmark project on the 3 million square metre site at talks with Egypt’s investment and foreign trade minister Mohamed Farid in London on Thursday, the ministry said in a statement.

Total investment in the project, which will provide thousands of jobs, could eventually reach $4.2 billion, as it comprises several factories, the statement added.

“We give priority to attracting quality investments that combine the economic dimension with the environmental and technological impact, especially projects that provide practical solutions to existing challenges and contribute to supporting the transition towards a green economy,” Farid said.

The project aims to rehabilitate the old Shabramant landfill to turn it into a modern biofriendly factory and a sustainable public park, the minister said.

The ministry said last year that the project is a core part of Egypt’s broader push to build a nationwide, integrated and efficient waste management system.

It prioritises maximising recycling, treating waste before final disposal, and reducing environmental impacts through advanced technologies, it noted.

The industry and transport minister Kamel Al Wazir first disclosed the project in December during a meeting of industry officials. The plant would help to safely dispose of piles of waste in the area and create jobs for Egyptians, he said.

“The minister instructed officials to provide all kinds of support and facilitate procedures for the company so it will embark on the project as soon as possible,” the ministry said.

Further reading:

• Gulf’s recycling industry grows with mega-projects
• Opinion: ‘Preloved’ retail is a vital step on Gulf’s path to sustainability
• Mena’s $7bn problem is an even bigger opportunity

Egypt, the third-largest Arab economy, is seeking industrial investment to boost exports and ease a painful trade deficit.

The country is targeting a 20 percent annual increase in exports through 2030 and is prioritising five sectors: tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, energy and information/communications technology.