Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla had a slew of meetings with world energy leaders to discuss cooperation initiatives and low-emission energy projects at Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Conference and Exhibition (ADIPEC 2021).

In the meeting with Secretary General of the International Energy Forum (IEF) Joseph McMonigle, El Molla touched on the issues concerning the transition to low-carbon energy.

In this regard, El Molla stressed the important role that natural gas plays in the global energy mix as a major source of low-energy carbon, especially with the emergence of decarbonization techniques. He also highlighted Egypt’s participation in an initiative to reduce carbon emissions, launched by the United States on the sidelines of the COP26 climate summit

McMonigle supported Egypt’s hosting of the COP27 UN Climate Change Conference, and expressed his aspiration to take part in the next edition of the Egypt International Petroleum Conference (EGYPS 2022).

In light of the growing cooperation between Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) , El Molla held a meeting with Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology  and CEO of the UAE ADNOC Company.

During the meeting, both parties examined the cooperation opportunities between the petroleum sector and ADNOC. The discussions involved projects aimed at developing the refining industry and utilizing carbon capture, use and storage technologies (CCUS).

Most importantly, El Molla and Al Jaber agreed to unify their efforts and visions in order to deliver realistic and implementable outcomes in COP27 and COP28.

El Molla also met with Mubadala Petroleum CEO Mansoor Al Hamed and the accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, Al Hamed shed light on the company’s new strategy, stating that Mubadala has widened the scope of its work to include all activities across the value chain. In addition, he examined the potential cooperation opportunities in Egypt’s petroleum sector.

Meanwhile, the Minister also discussed areas of cooperation between the petroleum sector and Schlumberger with the company’s CEO Olivier Lee Bosch and the accompanying delegation.

Bosch stressed his company’s keenness to enhance cooperation with the petroleum sector in all fields, especially in the process of transition to low-emissions energy. He also referred to the establishment of a new unit in the company specialized in the study and application of technologies in this field. Both sides agreed to study and implement actual projects for the application of CCUS and other decarbonization technologies.

El Molla held a meeting with Dawn Summers, Chief Operating Officer of the German company Wintershall Dea, where she pledged to expedite the implementation of projects to raise the efficiency of operations and increase production. She added that the company will enhance the sector’s efforts to transform to cleaner energy through the implementation of specific projects for CCUS and hydrogen production.

During a meeting with the Minister, the delegation from engineering company Worley headed by Mr. Amr Al-Obaidi, expressed its keenness to expand its activities in Egypt as well as its desire to cooperate with the petroleum sector in preparing a roadmap for achieving carbon neutrality.

El Molla and Aspen Tech CEO Antonio Pietri also discussed ways to enhance aspects of joint cooperation in the field of refinery development projects and digital transformation.

On another note, El Molla received an invitation to participate in the next session of the CERAweek in the United States, which is considered the world’s most important conference in the energy industry.