Features / In Review
Energy Efficiency Success Stories And Lessons For Egypt
Experts continuously insist that Egypt's energy woes would be reduced significantly if the nation became more energy efficient. This could be accomplished mostly by reducing energy subsidies, so they stress, but decades of failures to decrease the subsidies significantly do not give hope that it will happen soon. However, experiences of other countries indicate that besides reducing subsidies, there are several other measures that can boost energy efficiency (EE). This article reviews a few successful EE policies, with particular attention on the lessons that could be learned from other MENA countries. Streamlining the Permit Process: Lessons from Abu Dhabi and Qatar
According to University of Oxford energy expert Justin Dargin, no country exists in the MENA region where oil and gas permitting is an easy process for international energy companies (IOCs). However, some countries-notably Qatar and the UAE, as Dargin and other experts point out-cope much better than the rest of the region. This article looks into the permit processes in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and Qatar, and what Egypt could learn from them. Egypt’s Poor Suffer at the Hands of Butane Crisis
For short and long-term memories alike, lack of butane supply occupies the minds of many Egyptians this season, but more likely they are suffering from it. News breaks annually when the shortage worsens, and headlines echo a familiar call for alarm. But the real crisis runs far deeper than winter discontentment. Meeting Egypt’s Electricity Needs
Egypt's electricity consumption has about doubled in each of the last three decades. Until recently production managed to keep up with this pace, but it is not the case anymore. Currently, Egypt can produce up to 27,000 MW of electricity per day, whereas daily consumption reaches 29,000 MW in summer. Implications of Apache’s Asset Sale
Apache, one of the largest oil producers and US investors in Egypt, recently announced that it has sold a 33 percent minority interest in its Egypt operations to China's state-owned petroleum company Sinopec International Exploration and Production Corporation. This caused some to wonder if this is the first sign of oil and gas companies fleeing Egypt due to political turmoil. Optimistically however, the deal may actually mark another trend, China's growing influence in Egypt's energy sector. Unconventional Resources and Hydraulic Fracturing: Assessing the Environmental Impact
Recent technological advances have allowed for economically viable extraction of unconventional forms of gas. Unconventional forms of natural gas including shale, tight gas, and coalbed methane, generally occur in lower concentrations over larger areas compared to conventional gas reservoirs, making it difficult to extract. Currently, shale gas production is predominately limited to the United States, where it continues to grow rapidly. Shale gas was primarily responsible for the increase in gas production in the United States between 2010-2011. Noting the success of shale in the US, many other countries, including Egypt, are now considering the possibilities of tapping their own unconventional resources. US Tight Oil Boom: Domestic and Global Implications
The US is currently in the midst of what has been dubbed an energy renaissance. This renaissance was spurred by the country's ability to tap unconventional oil and gas. Unconventional oil lacks a standard definition, but it is generally characterized as more difficult and expensive to extract than conventional oil. The conventional-unconventional categories are fluid, as some types of oil currently considered conventional were once labeled as unconventional. The Impact of Gulf Aid on Egypt’s Economy
The unrest following the removal of Former President Mohamed Morsi has heightened the post-revolution impact that declining tourism revenue and decreasing foreign investment have had upon Egypt's economy. In the wake of Morsi's ouster, and sensing both Egyptian need along with a broader political or economic opportunity, three Gulf countries pledged billions of dollars in aid. 
