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)
TT

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.



Oil Prices Ease but Remain Near 2-week Highs on Russia, Iran Tensions

FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks operate in front of a drilling rig in an oil field in Midland, Texas US August 22, 2018. Picture taken August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Nick Oxford//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks operate in front of a drilling rig in an oil field in Midland, Texas US August 22, 2018. Picture taken August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Nick Oxford//File Photo
TT

Oil Prices Ease but Remain Near 2-week Highs on Russia, Iran Tensions

FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks operate in front of a drilling rig in an oil field in Midland, Texas US August 22, 2018. Picture taken August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Nick Oxford//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks operate in front of a drilling rig in an oil field in Midland, Texas US August 22, 2018. Picture taken August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Nick Oxford//File Photo

Oil prices retreated on Monday following 6% gains last week, but remained near two-week highs as geopolitical tensions grew between Western powers and major oil producers Russia and Iran, raising risks of supply disruption.
Brent crude futures slipped 26 cents, or 0.35%, to $74.91 a barrel by 0440 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $70.97 a barrel, down 27 cents, or 0.38%.
Both contracts last week notched their biggest weekly gains since late September to reach their highest settlement levels since Nov. 7 after Russia fired a hypersonic missile at Ukraine in a warning to the United States and UK following strikes by Kyiv on Russia using US and British weapons.
"Oil prices are starting the new week with some slight cool-off as market participants await more cues from geopolitical developments and the Fed’s policy outlook to set the tone," said Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at IG.
"Tensions between Ukraine and Russia have edged up a notch lately, leading to some pricing for the risks of a wider escalation potentially impacting oil supplies."
As both Ukraine and Russia vie to gain some leverage ahead of any upcoming negotiations under a Trump administration, the tensions may likely persist into the year-end, keeping Brent prices supported around $70-$80, Yeap added.
In addition, Iran reacted to a resolution passed by the UN nuclear watchdog on Thursday by ordering measures such as activating various new and advanced centrifuges used in enriching uranium.
"The IAEA censure and Iran’s response heightens the likelihood that Trump will look to enforce sanctions against Iran’s oil exports when he comes into power," Vivek Dhar, a commodities strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia said in a note.
Enforced sanctions could sideline about 1 million barrels per day of Iran’s oil exports, about 1% of global oil supply, he said.
The Iranian foreign ministry said on Sunday that it will hold talks about its disputed nuclear program with three European powers on Nov. 29.
"Markets are concerned not only about damage to oil ports and infrastructure, but also the possibility of war contagion and involvement of more countries," said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.
Investors were also focused on rising crude oil demand at China and India, the world's top and third-largest importers, respectively.
China's crude imports rebounded in November as lower prices drew stockpiling demand while Indian refiners increased crude throughput by 3% on year to 5.04 million bpd in October, buoyed by fuel exports.
For the week, traders will be eyeing US personal consumption expenditures (PCE) data, due on Wednesday, as that will likely inform the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting scheduled for Dec. 17-18, Sachdeva said.