CAIRO, EGYPT -- (Marketwire) -- 11/20/12 --

Cairo, Egypt / 19 November, 2012 11:00 PM



Orascom Construction Industries Announces the Start of Construction
Work on Iowa Fertilizer Company

Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) announced today that its wholly
owned subsidiary, Iowa Fertilizer Company (IFCo), held a groundbreaking
ceremony to mark the start of construction work on its new greenfield
nitrogen fertilizer production plant in Wever, Iowa. IFCo will be the
first world scale natural gas-based fertilizer plant built in the
United States in nearly 25 years and will help reduce the United
States' dependency upon imported fertilizers.

Featured speakers at the event included Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of OCI Nassef Sawiris, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad,
Director of Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Debi Durham, and
Lee County Supervisor Larry Kruse.

Governor Branstad commented: "The Iowa Fertilizer Company plant is one
of the largest investments ever in the state of Iowa. I am pleased to
be breaking ground today and moving forward with our efforts to bring
thousands of jobs to this area and to provide our farmers access to
affordable fertilizer. This project will help rejuvenate Lee County
and all of Iowa at a time when it is needed most."

Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds commented: "All of Iowa will see and
feel the positive economic impact of this project. Iowa Fertilizer
Company is bringing hundreds of millions of dollars into the state that
will directly benefit local outlets such as public schools. This
groundbreaking marks a step in the right direction for economic growth
and a successful future for the state of Iowa."

OCI Chairman and CEO Nassef Sawiris commented: "In November 2011, Iowa
Fertilizer Company was just an idea. Today, after much hard work by
local and state officials, we celebrate the start of construction work
on our new US$ 1.4 billion fertilizer plant, which represents the
largest investment project ever undertaken in the state. We would also
like to thank the community in Lee County for its support of our
project and reaffirm our commitment to utilize local suppliers,
contractors and workers whenever possible and involve ourselves in this
community."

During the event, IFCo signed an agreement with the ANR Pipeline
Company, a subsidiary of TransCanada Corporation, covering terms for
the long term transportation of natural gas to the plant, an agreement
with Citigroup to serve as the lead underwriter of its bond financing
issuance, and an agreement with Iowa-based McAninch Corporation to
undertake the initial earthmoving and grading works on the site.

The Iowa Finance Authority's Board of Directors unanimously approved
the issuance of up to US$ 1.2 billion in Midwest Disaster Area bonds by
Iowa Fertilizer Company on November 16. As the borrower, IFCo will be
solely responsible for the repaying the debt and the rates and terms of
the bonds will be based on its creditworthiness. The Iowa Department
of Natural Resources approved the issuance of air permits for the new
plant on October 26. The new plant will utilize the best available
emissions control technologies and comply with all state and federal
emissions requirements.

Iowa is the top producer of corn in the United States, and cultivates
over 30 million acres annually. Iowa has the highest use of
nitrogen-based fertilizer in the nation, and IFCo will be well
positioned to satisfy Iowa's demand for nitrogen-based fertilizers.

About Orascom Construction Industries

OCI is one of Egypt's largest corporations employing more than 90,000
people in 35 countries around the globe. The OCI Fertilizer Group owns
and operates nitrogen fertilizer plants in Egypt, the Netherlands, the
United States, and Algeria and has an international distribution
platform spanning from the Americas to Asia. The OCI Fertilizer Group
ranks among the world's top fertilizer producers with a production
capacity which will exceed 7.0 million metric tons in 2012. The OCI
Construction Group provides international engineering and construction
services primarily on infrastructure, industrial and high-end
commercial projects in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa for
public and private clients. The OCI Construction Group ranks among the
world's top global contractors.
For additional information
contact:                        For additional information on OCI:
OCI Investor Relations
Department:                     www.orascomci.com
Omar Darwazah                   OCI stock symbols: OCIC.CA / OCIC EY /
Email:                          OCICqL / ORSD / ORSCY
omar.darwazah@orascomci.com

                                Orascom Construction Industries (OCI)
Erika Wakid                     Nile City Towers - South Tower
Email:                          2005A Corniche El Nil
erika.wakid@orascomci.com       Cairo, Egypt
Hassan Badrawi
Director

Tel: +202 2461 1036/0727/0917
Fax: +202 2461 9409




                    This information is provided by RNS
          The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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