Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly stressed the importance of setting a timeline for cooperation with Libya in natural gas and oil exploration, as well as supporting electricity interconnection between the two countries.
Madbouly made the remarks during a meeting with Abdulhamid Al-Dbeibeh, Prime Minister of Libya’s Government of National Unity, at the Egyptian government headquarters in New Alamein City.
The meeting was attended by Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriates; Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy; and Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, along with a number of senior officials from both countries.
Madbouly stressed the importance of supporting and developing bilateral relations between Egypt and Libya in a manner that reflects the historic ties between the two countries.
Egypt and Libya signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in January to deepen cooperation in the oil, gas, and mining sectors on the sidelines of the Libya Energy and Economic Summit in Tripoli.
Madbouly expressed Egypt’s interest in cooperation with Libya in the energy sector, particularly natural gas and petroleum products refining, as well as supporting the electricity interconnection network. He stressed the importance of initiating the necessary coordination between the executive authorities in both countries on energy-related matters.
The prime minister also reviewed Egypt’s efforts to establish electricity interconnections with neighboring countries, particularly Saudi Arabia and Libya, noting that such projects would support energy exchange among Arab countries.
He also pointed to opportunities for joint cooperation between Egypt and Libya in fertilizer production.
For his part, Al-Dbeibeh expressed his appreciation for the historic relations between Egypt and Libya, stressing the importance of strengthening joint cooperation to meet the needs of the two countries’ peoples.
Libya is keen to cooperate with Egypt, particularly in the energy sector, said Al-Dbeibeh, while also highlighting the care and support provided to the Egyptian community in Libya.
He affirmed Libya’s keenness to support joint investments in both countries and expand the participation of Egyptian companies in major and infrastructure projects in Libya, particularly in construction and building.
The Libyan prime minister also highlighted the importance of cooperation to develop the electricity interconnection network between the two countries and strengthen communication between their executive authorities during the coming period. He pointed to opportunities for cooperation in petroleum products, refining, natural gas and oil exploration.
Al-Dbeibeh proposed holding a forum for Egyptian and Libyan companies to discuss and showcase opportunities for joint cooperation, as well as organizing an exhibition for companies from both countries.
Abdelatty said Egypt looks forward to developing relations between the two countries and convening the joint committee as soon as possible. He added that Egypt is keen to expand the presence of Egyptian companies to contribute to implementing major projects that Libya plans to undertake.
The foreign minister also reviewed the Egyptian government’s efforts to support the Libyan community in Egypt, stressing the importance of coordination between the two sides to support Libya in international forums and through Egypt’s engagements with major countries.
Badawi discussed existing areas of cooperation between Egypt and Libya and meetings held to support bilateral cooperation, particularly in natural gas.
Esmat outlined opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in electricity interconnection and renewable energy.
Meanwhile, Masoud Suleman, Chairman of Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC), reviewed areas and proposals for cooperation in oil, natural gas and petroleum exploration. He also highlighted the possibility of coordination and cooperation in fertilizer production.
