Demonstration of Clean Technologies in Tanning Process

- Tanning sector in Egypt

- Tanneries and the environment

- Present situation in Old Cairo Tanneries

- Environmental impacts of tanneries

- Pollution Prevention Options 

- Reasons of the ECOTAN project

Tanning sector in Egypt
Egypt leather industry is considered one of the oldest industries. According to studies conducted recently by the Egyptian Government, the leather sector could play a major role in the country's economy.However, the industry has been recently facing some difficulties e.g. poor applied technologies, un-compliance with environmental requirements and regulations.

  The sector, which is mainly privately owned, employs about 8000 workers in close to 320 tanneries. These are located in two main cities, about 300 units in Old Cairo and the rest in Alexandria. The largest number of tanneries (at least 200) is classified as small size tanneries.
Egypt is limited in the international market of leather that makes the country in need for funds and technology transfer to assist this industry to comply with the international requirements.
Old Cairo tanneries are bounded from the North by Magra El-Oyoun Islamic fence and from the West by El-Fostat district and from the South by Ein-El Syra housing. The number of tanneries in the area of Magra El-Oyoun is 301 tanneries. They produce 70% of Egypt total production.

Figure 1 Tanneries in Egypt

• Total Investment about 596 million EGP
• Maximum Production Capacity of Leather equals to 250 million sq.ft
• Maximum Production Capacity of Soles 14000 tons
• Actual Production Capacity of Leather equals to 125 million sq.ft.
• Actual Production Capacity of Soles 7000 tons
• Now tanneries are working with 50% of its maximum capacity
• Cost of raw leather imported = 5.2 million L.E.
• Cost of raw leather exported = 85 million L.E.
• Number of Slaughters in Egypt = 405
• Raw hides in Egyptian Slaughters = 3 million hides

Figure 2 Distribution Percent of tanneries workers in Egypt