Second CDE silica sand plant for SOMEVAM

Tunisian quarry operator invests in second silica sand wash plant in meet growing demand for glass sands

SOMEVAM, a subsidiary of the Tunisian Sebri Group, an independent, family owned and operated group with interests in quarrying, have announced plans for a significant investment in the development of their second CDE wet processing solution for the production of high-specification silica sand products.

With authorization from the Central Bank of Tunisia, funding for this investment was secured with the support of UK Export Finance (UKEF), AF Capital Partners, Apple Bank and the British Embassy in Tunis. Sebri Group will work with CDE to design and engineer the new plant, which will be located at a SOMEVAM quarry in Oueslatia.

Sebri Group have operated quarries in Oueslatia for the past two decades, with SOMEVAM producing a range of sand and aggregate materials for the national construction market. Their management team identified an opportunity to further diversify the business by expanding into the glass sands market, to strengthen their commercial proposition in the region, and in 2019 commissioned the company’s first CDE solution.

This state-of-the-art silica sand wash plant has the capacity to treat up to 200 tonnes/h of sand, producing 100 tonnes/h of silica glass sand for the glass industry, as well as a range of secondary products including fine silica sand for silica flour production, foundry sand, concrete sand and road base.

Investment in a second silica sand wash plant comes as SOMEVAM record significant interest in their future production output. The new plant will produce silica sand, which has applications in paints, coatings and inks, adhesives and sealants, pharmaceuticals, lighting and more as well as silica for flat-glass applications such as windows, mirrors and flat glazing.

The glass industry accounts for more than a third of the total market for silica sand, based on end-use, and market analysis projects a growth rate of 7.12% in the silica market over the forecast period 2019–2026, reaching US$3 billion by 2026. Whilst North America has the largest market share, the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to display the highest growth rate.

Commenting on the announcement, CDE’s senior project manager, Bassem Idriss, said: ‘We’re very pleased to once again partner with Sebri Group on this exciting project to significantly expand SOMEVAM’s silica sand processing and production capacity. Their previous investment in CDE technology exemplifies our commitment to engineering excellence and is one of the most advanced plants of its kind.

‘Sebri Group recognize that superior product to meet the demands of the market requires an equally superior processing solution and, as such, this investment will complement the existing CDE solution in Oueslatia to further strengthen their position and capitalize on growth opportunities in the glass sands market.’

Ruchin Garg, CDE’s regional manager for the Middle East and Africa, added: ‘SOMEVAM’s existing silica sand plant, which was commissioned in 2019, receives expert proactive and preventative maintenance and support. It’s this commitment to our customers, one that ensures their CDE solution is running at optimum efficiency to maximize product throughput, yield and profitability, while minimizing their environmental footprint, that has formed the foundation from which we can continue to build upon our positive relationship with Sebri Group.’

Habib Sebri, owner and chairman of Sebri Group, said: ‘Following a hugely successful venture into the glass sand industry with our first CDE plant, we sought an additional plant to meet the growing demand for our products. We are excited to partner with CDE once again on this new project to maintain the quality and consistency of our offering, and we thank all of those partners who helped secure funding and provided their expertise and resources to help make this ambitious project a reality.’

Commenting on UKEF’s finance support, Minister for Exports Graham Stuart said: ‘The UK is one of the world’s top-five exporting nations, supporting well-paid jobs in every region and nation across the country. We are determined that this should continue, so this new scheme from our world-leading export finance agency, UKEF, will help our exporters reach buyers they would otherwise miss – and build back stronger from the pandemic.’

Andrew Woolfson, partner at AF Capital Partners, commented: ‘We were delighted to support CDE and customer Sebri Group with funding to make their second project together a reality.’