Green hydrogen and liquefied gas topped aspects of cooperation between Egypt and Germany, as part of the two countries’ plans to expand reliance on clean energy within the framework of the energy transition and emissions reduction strategy.

Today, Monday, March 13 (2023), a number of officials in Cairo and Berlin participated in the first meeting of the Higher Organizing Committee for cooperation between Egypt and Germany in the fields of energy and hydrogen, in cooperation with the German-Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Action in Germany Stefan Wenzel, Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tarek El-Molla, Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Business Sector Mahmoud Esmat, as well as many Egyptian and German companies working in green energy fields and projects.

El-Molla explained that Egypt and Germany attach importance to concluding partnerships and agreements in the field of energy, especially at the present time, through cooperation with major companies.

green energy

The Egyptian Minister of Petroleum stressed that energy issues, especially energy transition and carbon removal, are priorities on the agenda of the two countries, praising the depth and strength of the bilateral relations between them.

Al-Mulla added that the great momentum witnessed by the ongoing cooperation in the field of green energy, especially green hydrogen between Egypt and Germany, reflects the mutual coordination and common views between the two countries, which believe in the need to continue developing energy in more responsible and environmentally friendly ways and with the least impact on the climate.

He pointed out that in light of the rapid global movement to confront the effects of climate change, the world needs at the same time to continue consuming energy to support economic development and meet the needs of people.

El-Molla stressed that the declaration of intent signed by the Egyptian and German sides in the field of green hydrogen last November works to facilitate the exchange of experiences and benefit from the latest German technologies for the application, development and establishment of projects in the field of green hydrogen. In his speech on Egypt’s national strategy in the field of energy and developments in the field of hydrogen, El-Molla indicated that both strategies, whether the national energy strategy or the hydrogen strategy, are in the final stages, in preparation for announcing them soon.

climate change strategy

Al-Mulla explained that his country aims to keep pace with global developments in the field of sustainability and energy in order to provide an opportunity to attract more investments and provide incentives for companies wishing to invest in green hydrogen production projects.

Al-Mulla pointed out that the efforts come to achieve the goals of the National Strategy for Climate Change 2050, which Egypt launched it with the aim of improving the quality of life and achieving sustainable development and economic growth in parallel with preserving natural resources and the ecosystem.

He said, “The energy transition, and in particular the uses of hydrogen as a low-carbon energy source, came at the forefront of the action axes that make up the strategy.”

Al-Mulla stated that the growing importance of hydrogen as an energy source was clearly evident during the COP 27 Climate Summit in Egypt, which achieved remarkable results through its success in transforming international pledges and commitments into implementation measures. He explained that Egypt took quick and effective moves in the field of hydrogen during the summit period. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi announced the start of the first phase of the first integrated green hydrogen production plant in Africa. He also launched the Global Hydrogen Forum as a new and renewable energy.

During the climate summit, several framework agreements for green hydrogen projects were signed, in addition to signing an important memorandum of understanding with the European Union for strategic partnership in the field of hydrogen. This confirms Egypt’s ability, with its potential, to become a global center for green hydrogen production.

For his part, the German Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Action stressed the importance of the meeting, which includes high-level officials from both sides, with about 200 Egyptian and German companies.

He explained that global changes and challenges and their repercussions in the field of energy opened new horizons for cooperation between countries, and also laid the foundation for the beginning of a new phase of cooperation between Germany and Egypt in the field of energy and energy transition. He stated that Germany, which is working to expand renewable energy, is open to expanding and strengthening its international partnerships and strengthening cooperation with Egypt in the fields of energy and green hydrogen, praising Egypt’s experience in the energy sector, which has developed in this sector in an amazing way.

He pointed out that Egypt is rich in the potential of natural resources, which increases its ability to cooperate and attract investment in renewable energies, stressing that the future of working with Egypt is very good. As Egypt works distinguished in the field of climate action and sustainable energies.

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