Suez Cement, part of the Italcementi group, inaugurated its first waste treatment plant in Egypt on Sunday with investments totalling around EUR5m.

The project is part of the Egyptian-based company's strategy to increase the amount of energy from waste derived fuels.It will use around 45,000t of household waste to produce 35,000tpa of alternative fuel.

"The project will use the latest equipment and technologies available in this area," said Egypt's Minister of Environment Laila Eskander.

Egypt's Ministry of Environment Affairs opposes the import of coal due to its negative effects on the environment and the health of individuals.

Coal is not among the alternatives for solving the energy crisis in Egypt currently, Eskander had stated earlier.

Suez Cement has been impacted by the country's energy crisis but it has decided to respect Egyptian laws as well as contributing to solving the problem of waste management, the minister said.