The Ministry of Petroleum has started a comprehensive USD8bn scheme to upgrade Egypt's refinery plants nationwide, with the aim of increasing domestic production of petroleum by-products, Minister Tarek Al Molah said. "Clearing the refineries' blockages that impede production, and modernizing safety and security systems will be included in the scheme." New projects for refining and producing the petroleum by-products will be carried out in Cairo, Alexandria, Assyuit, Suez with an aim to rationalise USD expenditure through substituting the imports with locally-produced petroleum derivatives. (Al Mal)