Cairo – The Higher Committee for Energy Cooperation between Egypt and Germany in the fields of energy and green hydrogen held its first meeting earlier this week in Cairo to deepen the cooperation in renewable energy. The announcement of intents had been signed by the two parties in November during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
Egypt’s International Cooperation minister Rania Al-Mashat said this first meeting of the Higher Committee for Energy Cooperation between Egypt and Germany reflects the joint efforts to stimulate the progress in the transition towards a green economy. The cooperation in liquefied natural gas and green hydrogen aims to contribute to ensure the supply of clean energy, achieve sustainable development and cope with climate change.
The minister explained that the green hydrogen is of great importance globally as it’s one of the clean fuels with potential to boost efforts to reach a green economy and advance the transition towards clean energy. The decline of global energy reserves and international efforts to encourage climate action and reduce emissions in different economic activities contribute to the growth of green hydrogen.
In her speech during the meeting held in Cairo last Monday (13), she explained Egypt has started taking measures to encourage investment in green hydrogen and increase its use as an alternative clean energy. The government plans on using this to ensure the energy supply in the country and even export any surpluses, especially to Europe.
Al-Mashat highlighted the Nouwfi program, a government-adopted platform for green projects, launched last July aimed at raising USD 14.7 billion in investment and climate funding. Resources will be invested in water, food and energy sectors with the purpose of accelerating climate action.
She stressed that the German government pledged during COP27 to give access to subsided financing funds for development, donation and debt swaps worth a total of EUR 258 million (USD 276 million) in order to support the transition towards clean energy. The German government also participated in a joint political declaration alongside Egypt and the United States, which included the pledge to support Nouwfi’s energy pillar.
The minister highlighted the measures implemented by the country in the green hydrogen field last year, including signing a memorandum of understanding at COP27 to launch the Mediterranean Green Hydrogen Partnership with the European Union and the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development. A letter of intent was signed with the EU, and contracts were penned for green fuel projects in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
Al-Mashat expressed her hope that the joint cooperation between the governments of Egypt and Germany contributes to expanding efforts to produce green hydrogen and ensure the future of energy for Egypt and its neighboring countries.
The event also featured Egypt’s Petroleum & Mineral Resources minister Tarek El Molla, Environment, Energy and Climate Protection State minister Stefan Wenzel, German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce CEO Jan Noether, the Electricity and Renewable Energy Minister’s Strategic Planning and International Cooperation senior undersecretary Ahmed Mahina, German’s Embassy in Cairo Development Cooperation deputy head Stephanie Sorensen, and businesspeople.
Translated by Georgette Merkhan & Guilherme Miranda
