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Italcementi Group entered the Egyptian market in October 2001, when it took part to the first privatisation phase of Suez Cement (a company listed on the Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchange), acquiring 25% of its capital and thus becoming one of its strategic stakeholders. Following subsequent purchases, in March 2005 Italcementi Group became the principal shareholder of Suez Cement (together with a consortium of local and international investors), for an overall investment of around € 460 m – one of the most substantial foreign investments in Egypt outside the oil sector.
Suez Cement's entrance in the Italcementi industrial network constituted an important opportunity of development for the Egyptian company, also due to new investments aimed at increasing its efficiency. Furthermore it strengthened the Group's leadership in the Mediterranean, confirmed by the acquisition of Helwan plant in 2005.This acquisition was executed in collaboration with other local and international partners for a global investment of around $605 m.
Suez Cement operates 5 plants, one of which specialised in white cement production (El Minya). With a market share of about 30%, Suez Cement is the leading cement manufacturer in the Egyptian market.
During 2006 the Group entered the concrete sector through the acquisition of RMB (Ready Mix Beton) and Decom.
The Group, through its subsidiary Italgen, is planning to install a wind farm of 120MW in the Gulf El Zeit area. This will be is the first private wind farm in Egypt.