The first progress report of the NWFE Program, the nexus between water, food and energy projects, was launched by the Ministry of International Cooperation, on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the launch of the NWFE program. It reviewed the cooperation efforts between the government and multilateral and bilateral development partners to support the country’s efforts in stimulating investment in green hydrogen in light of the country’s expansion of renewable and clean energy sources.
The report highlighted the efforts undertaken by the country to expand investments directed to the new and renewable energy sector, including the production of green hydrogen, as well as the comparative advantage of the Egyptian state and its ability to produce green hydrogen, and lay the foundations for coordinating efforts made in this field. This is through the establishment of the “National Council for Green Hydrogen”. This was part of the Government of Egypt’s efforts to localize this promising industry in the implementation of the directives of the President of the Republic, to establish an institutional entity responsible for coordinating and managing everything related to this vital file.
The report explained that the government has strengthened bilateral and multilateral cooperation with various development partners, in the field of green hydrogen, by signing a number of agreements. This included the signing a memorandum of understanding between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Ministries of Electricity and Renewable Energy, and Petroleum and Mineral Resources with the aim of conducting a feasibility study. The study aims to evaluate the feasibility of the low-carbon hydrogen market in Egypt and help formulate the national hydrogen strategy, during the activities of launching the national strategy with the EBRD, organized by the Ministry of International Cooperation in March 2022.
Prior to COP27 in Egypt, a declaration of intent for cooperation in the field of green hydrogen was signed between the Ministries of International Cooperation, Electricity and Renewable Energy, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, with the aim of strengthening Cooperation in the areas of green hydrogen with emphasis on the common goal of creating an environment suitable for economically and environmentally sustainable development in both countries and working together to implement the goals of the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed between Egypt and the European Union regarding the strategic partnership in the field of sustainable hydrogen during COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh between the Ministries of Electricity, Renewable Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Resources and the Executive Vice President of the Commission and the European Union Energy Commissioner, as well as the signing of a memorandum of understanding related to cooperation in the fields trade, transportation and export of natural gas to the European Union, and the technical support required to activate its provisions is being determined by the European Union.
Among the most prominent agreements that were signed in this regard during COP27 was the signing of an agreement with the EBRD worth $80 million, and Egypt Green Company, which is an alliance between the Norwegian SCATEC, the Egyptian Fertiglobe, Orascom, and the Sovereign Fund of Egypt. The project aims to develop the first green hydrogen production facility in Africa in the Suez Canal Economic Zone to produce green ammonia for the fertilizer industry.
It is worth noting that the National Council for Green Hydrogen, headed by H.E. the Prime Minister, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, approved during its meeting yesterday the national strategy for green hydrogen. The vision of the strategy aims to make Egypt one of the leading countries in the green hydrogen economy in the world, by utilizing world-leading expertise and innovations in the production and export of hydrogen and its derivatives, promising renewable energy sources, large gas reserves and its strategic location.
To download NWFE Progress Report Number 1, click here, and here for the Arabic version.