Egypt is being pressed by a Canadian company for compensation after construction of a $1.4bn fertiliser plant on the country’s Mediterranean coast was halted in a case closely followed by foreign investors.

Agrium, a fertiliser manufacturer, says that along with its partners and international banks it has already invested $500m (€317m, £250m) in the project and that it would “aggressively” pursue full recovery of its costs, equity contribution and lost profits.