Three companies were awarded three cement production licences in the auction that was held this week by the Industrial Development Authority. South Valley Cement (SVCE.CA) was awarded a licence  for 2 mtpa in Beni Suef, El Sewedy Cement was awarded a licence for Ain El Sokhna, while El Masryeen was awarded a licence in Sohag. The licences will have combined capacity additions of 6 mtpa, were sold for a total of c.EGP500mn ( EGP160mn per licence), and are expected to bring about investments of EGP10bn, according to Minister of Trade and Industry Tarek Kabil. The new additions are expected to cover the hiked demand from government projects, especially the New Capital, according to chairperson of IDA, Ahmed Abdel Razek. (Al Mal)