President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Directs Expansion of Local Manufacturing for Black Sand and Rare Earth Elements in Egypt

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has issued directives to advance local manufacturing within the black sand industry, focusing on related value-added products, fertilizers, and rare earth elements.

The announcement followed a high-level meeting held in New Alamein on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi convened with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Chairman of the Concord for Engineering and Contracting Ahmed al-Abd.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Mohamed al-Shennawy, discussions centered on the progress of the national strategy aimed at scaling up new and renewable energy projects. This initiative seeks to elevate the share of renewable energy to 45 percent of total generated electricity by the year 2028. To support this transition, the state is emphasizing battery-based electricity storage technologies to safeguard the national grid and guarantee stable power distribution.

Minister Mahmoud Esmat reported that cumulative investments in the electricity and renewable energy sector have reached approximately LE five trillion since 2014. Furthermore, the meeting evaluated the contributions of international partners in supplying technical assistance and financing, which help solidify Egypt's standing as a regional energy hub and a manufacturing center for electrical equipment.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi emphasized the importance of fostering partnerships that rely on locally produced equipment, particularly energy storage batteries. He reiterated that localizing industries linked to renewable energy is essential for national energy security and the broader green transition, prompting his final directives regarding black sand and rare earth elements.