SOMEVAM, a subsidiary of the Tunisian Sebri Group, an independent, family owned and operated group with interests in agriculture, food processing and quarrying, has announced plans for a significant investment in the development of its second CDE wet processing solution for the production of high-specification silica sand products.
With authorisation from the Central Bank of Tunisia, funding for this investment was secured with the support of UK Export Finance, AF Capital, Apple Bank, and supported by British Embassy Tunis. Sebri Group will work with its wet processing partner, CDE, to design and engineer the new plant which will be located at SOMEVAM’s quarry in Oueslatia.
Sebri Group has operated sand quarries in Oueslatia, Tunisia to serve the national construction market for the past two decades. Here, SOMEVAM was producing a range of sand and aggregate materials for the construction sector.
Its management team identified an opportunity to further diversify the business by expanding into the glass sands market to strengthen its commercial proposition in the region, and in 2019 commissioned its first CDE solution at the site.
The state-of-the-art silica sand wash plant has the capacity to treat up to 200tph of sand, producing 100tph 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 records significant interest in its future production output. The 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 $3bn by 2026. While North America has the largest market share, the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to display the highest growth rate[1].
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 announcement that will significantly expand SOMEVAM’s silica sand processing and production capacity. Its previous investment in CDE technology exemplifies our commitment to engineering excellence and is one of the most advanced plants of its kind.
“Sebri Group recognises 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 its position and capitalise on growth opportunities in the glass sands market.”
For more information about CDE and its wet processing technologies, visit CDEGlobal.com.
