German Company Considers Producing Sodium Cyanide in Egypt for Gold Mining

Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tarek El-Molla meets with the German delegation. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tarek El-Molla meets with the German delegation. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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German Company Considers Producing Sodium Cyanide in Egypt for Gold Mining

Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tarek El-Molla meets with the German delegation. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tarek El-Molla meets with the German delegation. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum announced that Germany's CyPlus is interested in establishing a new production plant for Sodium Cyanide in Egypt that is used as part of the gold mining and extraction process.

CyPlus is a leading company with advanced technology services and innovative solutions. It ensures safe use of cyanide production, transportation, and disposal.

The company utilizes new innovative technologies to develop gold extraction and mining procedures.

The working group will decide on the necessary procedures and find a suitable location in the Eastern Desert for the new production plant and will also work on researching the required technologies and local market needs.

Sodium cyanide is a colorless sodium salt. It is prepared from sodium amide by heating it with carbon at 800 degrees. It is used in the treatment and extraction of gold.

A press statement released by the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, said the German company has a "desire to establish a plant for the production of sodium cyanide."

Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El-Molla met with Chairman of CyPlus Stefan Welbers on Wednesday to discuss the investment opportunities available to the company in Egypt.

During the meeting, Molla stressed the need to localize industries for products complementary to the mining activity, citing the remarkable development in gold mining, the successful gold bid, and the entry of several international companies into the promising field.

He indicated that the authorities are studying the feasibility of establishing such factories. He added that the ministry is working on a strategic plan to enhance mining activity and establish more factories to boost it, especially those importing products in foreign currency.

The minister highlighted the importance of developing the industry sustainably and implementing green mining requirements. He stressed the need for increasing mining capabilities while working towards reducing environmentally harmful emissions.

For his part, Welbers confirmed that the company provides safe and responsible uses of cyanide, starting from production, through transportation and circulation processes, to application and exchange.

He indicated that CyPlus dedicates its capabilities to providing new solutions that boost productivity and innovatively develop the gold mining process.

He praised the remarkable developments in the mining field in Egypt, saying it holds promising opportunities for investment.



CEO of Cisco Saudi Arabia: Our Investments in the Kingdom Continue to Support Digital Transformation

The logo of US networks giant Cisco Systems is seen in front of their headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France August 6, 2022. (Reuters)
The logo of US networks giant Cisco Systems is seen in front of their headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France August 6, 2022. (Reuters)
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CEO of Cisco Saudi Arabia: Our Investments in the Kingdom Continue to Support Digital Transformation

The logo of US networks giant Cisco Systems is seen in front of their headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France August 6, 2022. (Reuters)
The logo of US networks giant Cisco Systems is seen in front of their headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France August 6, 2022. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia has demonstrated a strong commitment to IT infrastructure amid significant advancements in the Kingdom’s tech sector on global indices. This has positively impacted Cisco, a global leader in security and networking solutions, which has reported consistent performance in line with the opportunities available in the country and reaffirmed its decision to continue investing in Saudi Arabia to support its digital transformation initiatives.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Salman Faqeeh, CEO of Cisco Saudi Arabia, said the Kingdom showcased the strength and efficiency of its infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic, positively influencing Cisco’s operations over the past few years.

Cisco, a technology company listed on the US stock market and headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, specializes in developing, manufacturing, and selling networking devices, software, and communication equipment.

Faqeeh stated that Cisco is committed to playing a key role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation through strategic investments. In 2023, the company opened a regional office in Riyadh to strengthen its operations across the Middle East and North Africa and deepen its presence in the Kingdom. Senior executives also held high-level meetings with government and private sector leaders to solidify partnerships in the local market.

Faqeeh stressed that the company has consistently invested in programs to accelerate digital transformation, supporting the Kingdom’s efforts in key sectors and fostering an innovation ecosystem. He added that since the launch of Saudi Arabia’s Digital Transformation Program in 2016, part of Vision 2030 aimed at enhancing digital skills and promoting innovation, Cisco has implemented more than 20 projects in critical areas such as healthcare, education, and smart cities.

Faqeeh praised the Kingdom’s achievements in digital transformation, citing its significant progress on global indices. Saudi Arabia ranked second among G20 countries in the 2024 ICT Development Index and led in cybersecurity readiness.

Boosting cybersecurity is a top priority for Saudi Arabia, particularly given the rising number of cyberattacks globally, he added. In this context, he pointed to Cisco’s efforts to provide solutions that protect data and digital infrastructure, citing a 2023 Cisco study, which revealed that 99% of surveyed organizations in the Kingdom increased their cybersecurity budgets, although 67% reported experiencing security incidents in the past year.

He also addressed challenges in artificial intelligence (AI), highlighting a recent Cisco study that found 93% of Saudi companies have AI strategies, but only 7% are fully prepared with the necessary infrastructure to implement these technologies.

Moreover, Faqeeh underscored the impact of Cisco’s Networking Academy program in Saudi Arabia, which has trained over 336,000 individuals, including more than 35% female participants—one of the highest percentages globally.

Regarding academic collaborations, he emphasized Cisco’s ongoing partnership with the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), aimed at improving the educational environment and empowering academic staff and students with cutting-edge solutions.

Cisco is also committed to environmental sustainability, aiming for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Faqeeh noted the company’s focus on delivering energy-efficient technology solutions and contributing to the Kingdom’s goals for carbon neutrality.

The company will participate as a strategic sponsor in the Black Hat cybersecurity conference, set to take place in Riyadh from November 26–28. According to Faqeeh, the company aims to use this platform to strengthen collaboration with clients and partners in the Kingdom, offering innovative security solutions that protect data and facilitate the safe adoption of AI technologies.