The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), held the second meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) for the Project for Capacity Development on Energy Efficiency and Conservation, at its headquarters in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital.

The meeting was led by Alaa Al-Batal, First Undersecretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and Chairman of the Committee. He was joined by Ebisawa Yu, the newly appointed head representative of JICA’s office in Egypt, alongside representatives from the Japanese Embassy and officials from the Egyptian side, particularly from the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, the Industrial Development Authority (IDA), the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), and the project team.

During his speech, Al-Batal emphasized the support of Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, for the project, along with his directives to strengthen cooperation with JICA, reflecting the strong ties between Egypt and Japan.

He highlighted the project’s objective, which is to support Egypt’s transition toward a cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable energy future. He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to developing the energy sector in line with national priorities and ensuring energy efficiency.

Al-Batal shared the Ministry’s vision for the Energy Transition Center of Excellence, a flagship project focused on establishing a cutting-edge institution that offers top-tier technical and specialized energy services.

He noted the significant progress that the project team has recently made, including developing training materials, preparing technical specifications, initiating procurement for essential equipment used in energy efficiency reviews, and launching a national Certified Energy Manager (CEM) program.

Al-Batal urged partners to support the development of a unified national program for certified energy managers. This program would build local capacities and train employees in accordance with internationally recognized standards, thereby enhancing Egypt’s position as a regional leader in this field across Africa and the Arab world.

Notably, JCC, the project manager, comprises stakeholders from both the Egyptian and Japanese sides. The committee meets regularly at the headquarters of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (the primary cooperation partner) to review progress, coordinate project activities, and prioritize work plans.