The leather city in Robbiki is considered one of the most important specialized industrial cities, which was designed according to the latest international standards. The city is specialized in everything related to leather tanning, leather products and all feeding and complementary industries, it is performed to make Egypt restore its leading role in this industry. It has an area of 654.8 hectares, divided as follow: The first phase (71.2 hectares) for tanning leather. The second phase (44.1 hectares) for intermediate industries. The third phase (89.4 hectares) for manufacture of leather end products. Waste water plants (114 hectares) for the treatment of industrial wastewater. Tree forest (335.9 hectares) to use treated water for planting trees. Around 150 SMEs are resident in Robbiki IP and they are exclusively tanneries.
Robbiki park management is committed to support local business and SMEs by allowing and promoting the establishment of SMEs that provide services and add value to park residents. The park management has a plan to relocate SMSs from old Cairo to the dedicated area in Robbiki IP.
Industrial Symbiosis Implementation Co-Processing of Robbiki WWTP sludge in cement industry (Planned)
The waste water treatment plant (WWTP) in Robbiki Leather City has a current capacity of 8,000 m3/day, with plans to upgrade its capacity to 24,000 m3/day. Estimated sludge is 80 ton/day contaminated with Cr.
Benefits and impacts of incinerating sludge in cement kilns:
Improving the monitoring and management systemIn 2022, environmental and critical risks were not yet included in the park’s monitoring plan. However, a firefighting system, maintained by the Civil Defence Authority, was in place. It was recommended to establish an environmental management unit within the park to oversee progress in developing an environmental and emergency system for managing environmental and critical risks.
By 2024, Robbiki management and the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) enhanced the monitoring and management system by implementing a plan for the periodic monitoring of critical risks. With support from GEIPP Egypt, a strategy was developed to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts. This strategy aimed to assess potential climate-related risks, identify past challenges in the park, and establish measures for climate change adaptation and mitigation, including a dedicated action plan.
Although an environmental management unit has not yet been established within the park, the park management has assigned two engineers to oversee and follow up on the city’s overall environmental performance.
Robbiki has been assessed against the International Framework for EcoIndustrial Parks using the EIP Assessment Tool developed by UNIDO. This tool was used to update collected information and identify and prioritize EIP initiatives and interventions to enhance the park’s performance.
In 2020, the assessment found that Robbiki Industrial Park complied with 43% of the International EIP Framework, with a potential improvement opportunity of 46%, aiming to reach 89% compliance.
By 2024, the final assessment revealed that Robbiki Industrial Park had achieved 70% compliance with the EIP Framework. The GEIPP project played a key role in supporting the implementation of prioritized opportunities, leading to significant improvements in the park’s overall performance.
Robbiki IP improved the social management system by creating a data management and documentation system for the grievances received by the park management.