Egypt cooperates with int’l companies to study green hydrogen production as step toward possible exportation: Min.

CAIRO – 15 May 2022: Egypt is cooperating with international companies to start studying implementing experimental projects to produce green hydrogen, Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker said on Monday.

This represents a first step toward achieving further progress in this field and possible exporting green hydrogen from Egypt, Shaker said, affirming that the electricity and renewable energy sector is willing to cooperate with all parties in this regard.

This came during a meeting with officials of the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt (AmCham) and a delegation of businessmen. The meeting was also attended by representatives of many American companies operating in Egypt.

The meeting sought to learn about the measures taken by the Egyptian electricity sector in the field of reducing emissions within the framework of preparation for the 2022 Climate Change Conference (COP27) scheduled to be held in November in Sharm El Sheikh.

The meeting discussed ways to support and enhance cooperation with the Egyptian electricity and renewable energy sector as well as increasing investment opportunities in Egypt.

Shaker stressed that green hydrogen is receiving great attention as a promising source of energy in the near future, noting that an Egyptian ministerial committee is currently working at the national level in this regard, while taking into account the relevant international experiences.

Egypt signed on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Total Energies to annually produce 300,000 tons of green ammonia from clean energy in the Sokhna region, said the Egyptian Cabinet in a statement.

The MoU was signed between the Egyptian General Authority for Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), Egypt's Sovereign Fund, the Egyptian Electricity Transmission (EETC), the New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), Egyptian company Enara Capital, and the alliance of the French "Total" companies.

Green ammonia is a 100-percent renewable and carbon-free ammonia that is produced by green hydrogen, which is obtained by “using hydrogen from water electrolysis and nitrogen separated from the air.”

The signing was attended by Prime Minister Moustafa Mabouli, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker, and Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala al-Saeed.

“The Egyptian state is working diligently to support the transition to a green economy based on clean energy, by granting facilities and incentives to attract green investments, taking advantage of green financing opportunities, and signing more memoranda of understanding for projects that support this transformation. This comes in implementation of the directives of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi,” said Mabouli.

"The project in Sokhna aims to produce 300,000 tons of green ammonia annually in the first phase, to then increase the productivity to 1.5 million tons per year, provided that it is fed with green hydrogen that will be produced from clean and renewable energy sources," said the SCZone chairperson Yahia Zaki.