Egypt's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi met with Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), on the sidelines of the 2025 CERAWeek Global Energy Conference in Houston, Texas, to discuss energy cooperation and ongoing initiatives, as per a ministry statement on Wednesday. Discussions focused on enhancing collaboration between Egypt's energy sector and the IEA, with both sides reviewing progress on a joint work programme signed in October 2023. The programme aims to support Egypt's transition to a low-carbon economy, expand renewable energy production, and implement carbon reduction measures in the petroleum sector to ensure energy security and economic growth. The meeting also addressed global energy challenges, particularly energy security and optimising the energy mix amid the shift towards cleaner energy. Both sides underscored the continued role of fossil fuels as a key component of the energy mix for decades, alongside renewable energy sources. They highlighted the need for intensified efforts to decarbonise oil and gas, ensuring sustainable energy solutions while facilitating a fair energy transition tailored to different national circumstances. Notably, Egypt became an associate member of the IEA in 2022, making it the second country in the Middle East and North Africa region to join the agency in this capacity. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
