Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, stressed the importance of developing a unified Arab database for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, as part of efforts to strengthen regional cooperation in the electricity sector

Speaking at the opening session of the 16th session of the Arab Ministerial Council for Electricity in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Esmat highlighted the importance of the Arab Common Electricity Market and comprehensive Arab electricity interconnection in supporting economic and social development across the region.

He noted that 10 Arab countries signed the two agreements governing the Arab Common Electricity Market, the General Agreement and the Arab Market Agreement, during the council’s 15th session, held in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital in December 2024. The agreements established an important institutional foundation for advancing the market.

He noted that tangible progress has been made on a pilot electricity interconnection project among Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, as part of efforts to activate the Arab Common Electricity Market and lay the groundwork for commercial electricity trading.

The project’s working group has held several meetings to advance the appointment of a consultant to conduct the required technical studies, which will be funded by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development.

Regarding renewable energy and energy efficiency, the council continued its efforts by organizing the Arab Energy Efficiency Day celebrations in 2025 and 2026, under the auspices of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE).

The Arab Committee of Experts on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency also held two meetings to discuss energy efficiency, the expanded use of thermal energy storage technologies, the development of a unified Arab database for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, and updates to the Arab Sustainable Energy Strategy 2030.

Esmat concluded by stressing the need to build on the progress achieved and move from coordination and knowledge-sharing toward implementing more projects and practical mechanisms that strengthen Arab integration in electricity and renewable energy.

He called for continued efforts to meet the requirements for implementing the Arab Common Electricity Market, enhance electricity interconnection and exchange among Arab countries, and support the energy transition in line with regional sustainable development goals and energy security.