Egypt needs more than 32 million tons of cement till 2020 to meet growing market needs in light of the current gap created by sharp energy shortage, said an industrial authority official.

The government is working hard to address the current energy problem that forced many factories to shut down, head of the Industrial Development Authority Ismail Gaber said.

The government does not only think of using coal as an energy alternative but also mulls other energy sources to re-open closed factories, he added.