Lafarge Industrial Ecology (Ecocem) has signed two major contracts to manage and operate existing refuse-derived fuel (RDF) platforms in Suez and Qalyubeya, Egypt.

It includes a 10-year agreement to renovate and upgrade the platforms in Suez and another 10-year agreement to manage and operate the existing platforms in Qalyubeya, said a statement.

Lafarge Ecocem has already added a new production line in the Suez platform, and plans an additional line within one year of signing its contract with the governorate.

The annual RDF to be produced at the plant will equal to 42,000 tonns, and the investment by the company will total EGP12.7 millions ($1.6 million).

Ecocem has also added an extra line in the Qalyubea plant, in addition to renovating one production line.

The company's future investments in the governorate will increase the produced RDF by 32,000 tonnes annually, and production can reach up to 280,000 tonnes.

Both investments at the Qalyubeya plant were funded by GIZ and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with a total Investment of $1 million.

Hussein Mansi, chief executive officer, Lafarge Egypt, said: ”In line with our 'Building Egypt 2030' campaign, Lafarge is committed to help solve the issue of waste in Egypt, and to continue taking the necessary steps toward sustainable development.

"At Lafarge Egypt, we feel it is our responsibility as a leader in building solutions to be the major proponents in waste management, as we have the resources, and plan to continue finding many opportunities to make a difference." - TradeArabia News Service