In a pivotal panel session titled ‘Energy Future’ at the El Gomhoria newspaper conference, ‘El-Sisi… Building a Nation… 11 Years of Struggle and Work,’ leaders from Egypt’s petroleum and mineral resources sectors outlined ambitious plans for the country’s energy future.
The session featured Ibrahim Mekki, Chairman of the Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM); Alaa El Batal, First Undersecretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MoPMR); Ihab Ragai, First Undersecretary for Production at MoPMR; and Yasser Ramadan, Chairman of the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority (EMRA).
Mekki highlighted ECHEM’s ongoing efforts to implement 10 new industrial projects in the petrochemical sector. These projects are expected to add 7 million tons of products, including 20 new industrial products, with projected revenues exceeding $8 billion. He emphasized the sector’s crucial role in maximizing the economic return from petroleum and gas resources. For instance, eight industrial projects have successfully converted inputs worth $1.2 billion into 4.5 million tons of high-value products valued at over $3 billion, marking a significant increase of up to 250%. These projects cater to both the local market and support foreign exports.
El Batal discussed the ministry’s collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Environment to reduce carbon emissions. Notably, 23 major projects have been implemented to recover and utilize flare gas as fuel, significantly reducing emissions. The ministry is also working with international institutions like the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to secure funding for energy efficiency and emissions reduction projects. Additionally, a large-scale campaign is underway to replace diesel-powered generators at petroleum production sites with solar-powered systems, further enhancing energy efficiency.
Ragai underscored the ministry’s focus on leveraging technology to improve crude oil and gas field productivity. Collaborations with major international companies have led to successful workshops aimed at localizing advanced technologies in the petroleum sector. The use of artificial intelligence techniques has been particularly successful in the General Petroleum Company’s fields, enabling the discovery of new layers and enhancing production.
Ramadan highlighted Egypt’s rich mineral heritage, located within the mineral-rich Arabian-Nubian Shield region. He emphasized the potential for these resources to drive economic growth and diversification. The Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority is working to unlock this potential through strategic development and investment initiatives.
