The Egyptian Minerals and Salts Company at Fayoum (EMISAL)

Overview of The Egyptian Minerals and Salts Company (EMISAL)

The Egyptian Minerals and Salts Company at Fayoum (EMISAL) is an Egyptian joint stock company. It operates under the Arab and Foreign Investment Law and its amendments.

Location and Features of the Fayoum Depression: Home of the Egyptian Minerals and Salts Company

The Egyptian Minerals and Salts Company (EMISAL) operates in the Fayoum Depression, located in the northwest of the Arab Republic of Egypt. This depression reaches a depth of 24 meters below sea level. Lake Qarun, the deepest point, is about 44 meters below sea level. The lake spans 55 thousand acres, stretching 45 km from east to west. It has a breadth of 8 km and a maximum depth of around 12 meters.

Historical Context and Water Management

Historically, Lake Qarun received excess water from the Nile flood, which surpassed the agricultural needs of the Fayoum Governorate. The governorate connected to the Nile through Bahr Yussef at El Lahun. The construction of dams and barrages on the Nile River allowed controlled distribution of Nile water. As a result, irrigation water flowing into Fayoum Governorate was regulated. Consequently, Lake Qarun began receiving most of the agricultural drainage water from the surrounding lands. This led to the involvement of the Egyptian Minerals and Salts Company (EMISAL) in addressing the salinity issues of Lake Qarun.

Unique Chemical Composition of Lake Qarun

Lake Qarun’s water has a unique chemical composition. Its high sulfate ion concentration is four times greater than that of seawater. Being a closed lake, Lake Qarun experienced a steady increase in salinity over time. In 1906, the water had a salinity of 10 grams per liter. By 1984, it had escalated to 34 grams per liter. This significant rise in salinity threatened the lake’s ecosystem. The Egyptian Minerals and Salts Company was established to address this issue by extracting salts from Lake Qarun to reduce the salinity levels and protect the ecosystem.

The Egyptian Minerals and Salts Company EMISAL’s Mission and Operations

EMISAL was established to mitigate the increasing salinity of Lake Qarun by extracting salts. The company specializes in producing various salts. These include:

Anhydrous sodium sulfate
Refined sodium chloride
High-purity sodium chloride (vacuum salt)
Sodium chloride for medicinal uses (pharmaceutical salts)
Hydrated magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt)

Environmental and Economic Impact

Through its operations, EMISAL contributes to preserving the environmental balance of Lake Qarun. Additionally, it taps into a significant natural resource for economic benefit. The extraction of these salts from Lake Qarun helps maintain the lake’s ecological health. It also provides valuable products for industrial and medicinal uses.

In summary, The Egyptian Minerals and Salts Company (EMISAL) plays a crucial role in both protecting Lake Qarun’s environment and harnessing its mineral resources. Its efforts ensure that the lake remains a valuable and sustainable resource for the future.