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Heidelberg Materials Egypt, the largest private cement producer in Egypt, has acquired a minority stake in ZeroCarbon, a homegrown decarbonisation company.
The two companies have formalised the investment with a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating lower-carbon and more circular cement production in the country.
“Decarbonisation is not only about reducing emissions; it is about transforming the way resources are used across our industry. Heidelberg Materials Egypt’s investment in ZeroCarbon reflects our commitment to producing more sustainable building materials while contributing to global and national sustainability goals,” said Mohamed Hegazy, CEO of Heidelberg Materials Egypt.
The partnership comes at a time when Egypt is accelerating its transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy under its National Climate Change Strategy 2050, which aims to achieve sustainable economic growth while reducing greenhouse gas emissions across key sectors.
Heidelberg Materials Egypt is the largest private cement producer in Egypt, with an industrial network of four production facilities in Suez, Kattameya, Tourah, and Helwan, and more than 1,100 dedicated employees. It is also one of the world’s largest integrated manufacturers of building materials and solutions, with leadership in cement, aggregates, and ready-mixed concrete.
The partnership with ZeroCarbon will strengthen Heidelberg Materials Egypt’s access to a reliable and sustainable source of alternative fuels, while reducing its reliance on conventional fossil fuels. It will also advance the company’s ambition to increase the share of Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) beyond 30% of its total alternative fuel consumption.
Founded in 2015, ZeroCarbon is a leading decarbonisation company, specialising in waste management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Agricultural Waste, and Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste. The company transforms waste into valuable resources and contributes to a circular economy while reducing carbon emissions. Since the inauguration of its first Mechanical Biological Treatment Facility in Islamia in 2015, the company has steadily grown its operations.
The minority stake purchase by Heidelberg Materials Egypt will allow ZeroCarbon to focus on growth and production capabilities, support the development of a new RDF production facility in 10th of Ramadan City and enhance existing sites.
“Heidelberg Materials Egypt’s investment is a major milestone for ZeroCarbon and cement decarbonization in Egypt. This partnership will help us expand RDF production and develop Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) to reduce clinker use and carbon emissions,” said Karim Elsabee, co-founder and CEO of ZeroCarbon.
He added, “Our planned 10th of Ramadan facility and upgrades to existing sites will strengthen our alternative fuel operations. Through our subsidiary Ready Rocks, we will use our mining and industrial minerals expertise to develop high-quality SCMs. Our goal is to deliver reliable, large-scale solutions that help Egypt’s cement industry reduce its carbon footprint.”
The partnership will combine Heidelberg Materials Egypt’s global industrial, technical and operational capabilities with ZeroCarbon’s local expertise in waste management and alternative fuel production to create a strong platform to advance the development of Egypt’s alternative fuels market.
