Egypt will roll out its first industrial environmental registry this December to track factory emissions and set reduction targets, as the country accelerates efforts to prepare exporters for the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Speaking at a workshop on the EU-backed Green Sustainable Industry (GSI) Programme, Minister of Industry Kamel El-Wazir said a separate industrial energy registry will follow in early 2026 to monitor factories' consumption patterns and the share of renewable energy in production. El-Wazir warned that CBAM, which will fully apply to Egyptian exports of steel, aluminium, cement and fertilisers from early 2026, could impose annual carbon-related payments of €7 billion to €29 billion, despite Egypt contributing just 0.6 per cent of global emissions. The minister said the government is executing an "urgent industrial action plan" to strengthen energy efficiency, expand green manufacturing and help factories meet climate-related trade requirements. Priority sectors include engineering, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and textiles. He added that Egypt is working to deepen local production in low-emission industries, expand industrial land allocations for green projects, and scale up financing for electric-vehicle manufacturing and cleaner technologies. A climate-change management unit will also be established at the Cleaner Production Centre. El-Wazir called on international financial institutions to widen financial and technological support beyond studies and training, saying Egypt's industrial sector faces a financing gap of €630 million, more than triple current available funding. At the event, El-Wazir witnessed the signing of agreements with the French Development Agency and the European Investment Bank (EIB) for €53.8 million in concessional financing and grants under the GSI Programme. Another €8.8 million EU-funded advisory agreement was also signed between the Ministry of Environment and the EIB's regional hub. "Egypt is firmly committed to an irreversible path towards reducing emissions and building a competitive, sustainable industrial sector," El-Wazir said. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
