Suez Cement, part of the Italcementi group, plans to complete its preparations for coal usage at its plants by late 2016, local press reported, citing chairman Omar Mehanna Wednesday.

The conversion process involves an investment of around US$110m.

Mr Mehanna further told Amwal Al Ghad business magazine that Suez Cement had completed the conversion for coal usage at two plants out of five during 2015.

The company aims to use coal as an alternative energy source for the production of cement at its plants to produce 11Mta, he added.