Egypt has long eyed a role as a downstream colossus, standing as it does astride the Suez Canal, the key route linking Asia with the Atlantic Basin.

Oil minister Tarek El Molla on 25 May went some way to fleshing out that vision, announcing that his ministry is reviewing a 2020-35 petchems strategy. This envisages 11 new projects with a total investment cost of about $19bn. (CONTINUED - 396 WORDS)