The General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), announced the launch of Egypt’s National Clean Hydrogen Program. This initiative is designed to advance Egypt’s transition toward a competitive, low-carbon economy anchored by green hydrogen production and export.
The program will facilitate activities designed to enhance Egypt’s readiness for green hydrogen investments. These activities include conducting pre-feasibility and feasibility studies for priority projects, providing technical advisory for policy development, and strengthening institutional capacities. Furthermore, the program will support the establishment of a Green Hydrogen Center of Excellence at the SCZONE headquarters in Sokhna to serve as a hub for technical innovation and sector governance.
This initiative is part of the Global Clean Hydrogen Program, implemented by UNIDO and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), a multilateral fund providing grants for climate and critical projects. The program spans 10 nations, with Egypt positioned as a pivotal regional leader in the transition toward sustainable energy.
A steering committee has been formed to oversee implementation, comprising representatives from the SCZONE General Authority, UNIDO as the implementing agency, the Ministry of Environment as the national focal point for the Global Environment Facility, the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, and the Ministry of Industry. This is coordinated with the National Council for Green Hydrogen to ensure effective institutional coordination and monitoring of program activities in line with national priorities.
Egypt is rapidly emerging as a global frontrunner in green hydrogen development, boasting an $83 billion project pipeline. The sector has attracted over $215 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) between 2021 and 2023, with more than 80% of these endeavors centered in SCZONE. Key industrial milestones include the November 2022 launch of Africa’s first integrated green hydrogen facility and the world’s first green ammonia shipment from the SCZONE in November 2023. To support this growth, the national strategy targets the production of 5.8 million metric tons (mmt) of green hydrogen by 2040, aiming to capture up to 8% of the global market.
Another milestone includes Egypt’s first industrial use of hydrogen as boiler fuel at the Alexandria National Refining and Petrochemical Company, French-backed projects near Ras Shukeir.
