Egypt secured two scientific research awards at the annual competition of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC)  during its ministerial meeting held in Kuwait, according to a statement by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MoMPR).

Dalia Radwan Abdel-Hafiz from the Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute won the first award for her research on converting greenhouse gases through ethanol into sustainable aviation fuel. Meanwhile, the second award was granted to Mostafa Mohamed Ibrahim from the Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM) for his research paper titled “Prospects for Integrating Renewable Energy Technologies”.

 During the OAPEC meetings, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi presented five Egyptian initiatives aimed at enhancing Arab energy security. The initiatives include preparation of an Arab Energy Interconnection Map 2030 to identify priority projects in pipelines, reception terminals, and crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) transportation.

Badawi also proposed establishing an Arab mechanism to coordinate emergency procurement of crude oil and LNG, as well as the exchange of cargoes when needed. The minister further emphasised the significance of expanding cross-border storage.

Badawi also suggested the establishment of a digital platform for member states to showcase investment opportunities across exploration and production, refining, petrochemicals, storage, trading, transportation, and renewable energy.

In addition, the minister called for the development of a unified Arab program for technical exchange and capacity building in operations, maintenance, and environmental governance.

The OAPEC Council of Ministers commended ongoing steps to develop and restructure the organization’s operations, as well as the procedures paving the way for the launch of a new identity under the name “Arab Energy Organization.”

The decision was approved at the 113th OAPEC ministerial meeting in Kuwait in December 2024 following a Saudi proposal. The new structure is designed to cover all forms of energy including oil, natural gas, renewables, electricity, hydrogen, and potentially nuclear rather than focusing narrowly on petroleum exports.

OAPEC, founded in 1968, includes 10 member states: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Libya, Algeria, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Iraq, Egypt, and Syria.