Fouad Moustafa

Egyptian chemist who pioneered industrialization in post-colonial Africa

Fouad Moustafa (1914-1996) was an Egyptian chemist and industrialist who played a pivotal role in establishing Africa's first chemical industry. Born in Alexandria, he studied at the University of Cairo and later earned a PhD from the University of London. His groundbreaking work in fertilizer production revolutionized Egyptian agriculture, enabling the country to achieve food self-sufficiency by the 1960s. Moustafa's establishment of the Egyptian Fertilizer Company in 1956 marked the first major industrial project post-British occupation, creating thousands of jobs and laying the foundation for modern industrial parks across Africa. His 1968 invention of the 'Moustafa Process' for ammonia production became a global standard, featured in scientific journals. Beyond chemistry, he founded the African Institute of Industrial Technology, training engineers from 23 African nations. His memoir Chemistry for Liberation (1982) remains required reading at Cairo University's engineering department. Moustafa's legacy is preserved in the Fouad Moustafa Industrial Heritage Museum (www.fmihm.org), showcasing his laboratory equipment and patents.