Egypt's Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, Rania Al-Mashat, inaugurated a National Consultation Workshop on Green Hydrogen, focusing on attracting investment in the sector. The workshop, organised by the European Union and titled "Empowering Egypt: Fuelling the Future with Green Hydrogen Investments," is part of the EU-supported MED GEM initiative, promoting green hydrogen development across the Southern Mediterranean. The event brought together government officials, experts, academics, and private sector representatives. Key Egyptian attendees included representatives from the Ministries of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Finance, Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Environment, and Investment, as well as the General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones, and the New and Renewable Energy Authority. International participation included the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Commission, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank, the German Agency for Development, and the French Development Agency, alongside various private sector stakeholders. In her opening address, Al-Mashat emphasised green hydrogen's role in tackling climate change and decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors like heavy industry, maritime transport, and aviation. She highlighted its importance not just as a future fuel, but as a cornerstone of a low-carbon economy, enhancing energy security and supporting sustainable development goals. Moreover, Al-Mashat positioned green hydrogen as a significant opportunity for Egypt to assume a leadership role in sustainable energy. She cited the Green Hydrogen Incentives Law No. 2 of 2024, stating that it provides a supportive regulatory framework for attracting investment and promoting technological advancements. Egypt aims to capture 8% of the global hydrogen market by 2040. Al-Mashat detailed Egypt's strengths in green hydrogen production, including abundant solar and wind resources, well-developed infrastructure (ports, pipelines, and transport networks), and a strategic location for exporting to regional and international markets. She stressed the importance of international cooperation, particularly the partnership with the European Union, citing the Memorandum of Understanding signed at COP27 on renewable hydrogen as evidence of a shared commitment to clean energy and sustainable development. The workshop, Al-Mashat concluded, is a step towards a long-term strategic partnership in the green hydrogen sector. Its outcomes will feed into the EU-Egypt Green Hydrogen Investment Forum, helping shape strategies and priorities for industry growth. However, she acknowledged challenges that need to be addressed, including refining legislative and regulatory frameworks, fostering public-private partnerships, developing necessary infrastructure, and expanding international collaborations for expertise and technology transfer.
