The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) held a seminar on Tuesday in Cairo to showcase its expertise in promoting energy efficiency. The seminar will discuss challenges and opportunities of promoting energy efficiency in Egypt, comparing between the Egyptian and Bangladesh experiences in this field. JICA financed a 220MW Gulf of El Zayt wind farm with Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans up to $350m, according to a previous statement in July 2018, noting that its power projects portfolio in Egypt included 17 projects with investments of $2.1bn. The seminar shed light on Japan's experience in energy efficiency and the history of collaboration between Egypt and Bangladesh, as well as the Bangladeshi experience in energy efficiency promotion, including strategy formulation, role of government, energy management, financial mechanisms for promotion of energy efficiency, and raising awareness activities. JICA has a long cooperation history with Egypt in supporting electricity generation projects, including renewable energy projects, that aimed at improving energy production and reducing electrical transmission and distribution losses. In coordination with the Egyptian government, the seminar discussed the energy efficiency in terms of demand, especially in the industrial sector, which represents the second highest power consumer in Egypt after the residential sector. Moreover, about 20 officials from concerned Egyptian ministries, including electricity, petroleum, and industry, were dispatched to Japan during last two years for to benefit from the Asian country's expertise in energy efficiency enhancement. JICA called on Bangladesh Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA), Bangladesh Infrastructure Finance Fund Limited (BFFL), and Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) to share their experiences of promoting energy efficiency with Egypt and how to promote further this important field, building on the Bangladesh experience.
