Polar Hydro revives US$4B solid waste management project in Egypt

EGYPT – Giza Governorate has signed a US$4.2 billion agreement with UK-based engineering firm Polar Hydro to reinstate a large-scale solid waste management and treatment project in Shubramant village, marking one of Egypt’s most ambitious waste-to-value initiatives to date.

Spanning 714 acres, the facility is designed to handle waste volumes of at least 5,000 tonnes per day from districts and villages across Giza Governorate.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Environment, the project will process up to 30 million tonnes of accumulated waste and convert it into high-value export-oriented products, including biofuels, fertilizers and industrial-grade graphite.

Polar Hydro, a private engineering and technology company specializing in scientific research, engineering studies and experimental development in the natural sciences, will oversee the reinstatement and operation of the project.

Its responsibilities also include re-establishing waste disposal sites and landfills in Shubramant, operating the location as a special economic zone, and developing operational plans for the Kerdasa and Mariouteya intermediate waste transfer stations.

Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment Manal Awad said the agreement supports Egypt’s integrated solid waste management system, with a focus on recycling and resource recovery prior to safe disposal.

The project is expected to generate approximately 52,000 direct and indirect job opportunities, positioning waste management as a growing economic contributor alongside its environmental benefits.

The initiative aligns with Egypt’s broader Economic Development Narrative, which prioritizes green transition, industrial development and stronger private sector participation.

The framework targets private sector contributions of 72% of total investment by 2030, annual foreign direct investment inflows of US$24.6 billion, and total exports reaching US$145 billion.

The Shubramant agreement builds on Polar Hydro’s recently announced plans to invest US$2.4 billion in a large-scale recycling facility in Egypt’s Giza Free Zone.

That project aims to safely recycle solid household waste into biofuels and agricultural inputs, reinforcing Egypt’s push to attract international technology providers into the circular economy.

Egypt’s waste management sector has seen increased momentum in recent years, with new public-private partnerships, regulatory reforms and foreign investments targeting waste-to-energy, recycling and alternative fuel production.

Industry observers note that projects of this scale could help reduce landfill dependency, cut emissions and support export-oriented manufacturing, while strengthening Egypt’s position as a regional hub for sustainable industrial solutions in North Africa and the Middle East.

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