Osama Kamal helped establish Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (Echem) in 2002, which belongs to Egypts petroleum ministry, and is mandated with managing and developing Egypts petrochemicals industry. Kamal was appointed chairman of Echem in 2009. While Kamal was in charge of Echem, a crisis erupted pertaining the Agrium fertiliser plant in the Nile Delta city of Damietta. In 2008, Agrium, which is 30% owned by Echem, was faced with a popular campaign that alleged that the factory was bad for the environment, causing Egypt's government to abruptly cancel the project. Agrium was offered a 26% stake in the state-owned Egyptian fertilizer producer MOPCO instead. However, the project resumed in 2011, which dragged Agrium and Echem into more controversy. The project was completed and started operation in 2016.