Foreign Minister Holds Key Meeting on Egypt's UNESCO Bid
Ali abo dashish
Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Migration, Dr. Badr Abdel Aaty, met on Saturday with Dr. Khaled El-Anany, the former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities and Egypt's official candidate for the post of Director-General of UNESCO. Also present at the meeting was Minister Plenipotentiary Wael Abdel Wahab, the Director of El-Anany's campaign.
The meeting was held as part of the Minister's regular follow-up on the Egyptian nomination process. Dr. El-Anany briefed Abdel Aaty on the latest developments in the campaign, including his recent visit to Paris where he took part in the Executive Board interviews held on 9 April for candidates seeking the top post at UNESCO.
These interviews marked a pivotal stage in Egypt's bid, during which Dr. El-Anany presented his election vision. His vision is rooted in insights gathered from a wide-ranging diplomatic tour over the past two years, which included visits to more than 45 countries.
The discussion also addressed the strategic roadmap for the months ahead, leading up to the final vote scheduled for October 2025.
Minister Abdel Aaty reaffirmed Egypt's determination to continue mobilising international support for the Egyptian, Arab, and African nomination. He underscored Egypt's rightful claim to the high-ranking post, citing the country's global standing and pioneering role in the fields of education, science, and culture.
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Al-Ahram Weekly
39 minutes ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Keeping the summer lights on - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly
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His statement came days after Reuters and Bloomberg's Asharq Business reported that companies exporting Israeli gas to Egypt had announced plans to reduce exports by one billion cubic feet per day, bringing the volume down to 800 million cubic feet per day during the upcoming summer months. The reports noted that Israel had informed Egypt it would carry out periodic maintenance in May for 15 days, which would lower the volume of exported gas below the agreed-upon amount and below the target for the summer months. Some 60 per cent of Egypt's consumption of natural gas is used to generate electricity. Egypt began importing gas from Israel in 2020 under a $15 billion agreement between Noble Energy (acquired by Chevron in 2020) and Delek Drilling. The reduction in imported gas from Israel coincides with the natural decline in production from Egyptian gas fields, which has decreased to 4.1 billion cubic feet per day, while daily demand stands at around six billion cubic feet and rises during the summer. Egypt's electricity consumption increases by more than 25 per cent during the summer, reaching between 38 and 40 Gigawatt hours per day, up from 32 Gigawatt hours in winter, driving up the consumption of gas and diesel, said Egypt's former petroleum minister Osama Kamal. He estimates the gap between domestic gas production and consumption at 25 per cent, prompting the government to resort to gas imports to cover the shortfall. Domestic consumption exceeds 6.2 billion cubic feet per day, while local production stands at around four billion cubic feet. Another reason for the gap between consumption and the local production of gas needed to cover the demands of power plants is the delay in integrating new renewable and nuclear energy facilities, Kamal said. The government had previously announced long-term precautionary measures to address power outages, especially in the light of geopolitical crises that disrupt global supply chains and key maritime trade routes. Sources told Reuters in early May that Egypt was in talks with international energy and trading firms to procure between 40 and 60 shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet emergency needs ahead of peak summer demand. This is in line with statements by the presidential spokesperson, who said that President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi had directed the government last week to 'take all necessary measures in advance' to prevent recurring power outages. 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This may necessitate reducing gas supplies to certain industries due to the high cost of imported gas compared to the economic returns generated by these sectors, despite their export potential, Youssef said. He pointed out that gas-intensive industries yield lower returns than the cost of importing gas since the import price ranges between $14 and $16 per million British thermal units, while the supply price to factories stands at $4.5. He added that these industries are directed to carry out periodic maintenance for production lines during peak summer consumption periods, rather than during the lower-demand winter months. Given that Egypt will rely on gas imports as a long-term strategy, Youssef believes the best solution lies in accelerating the development of nuclear power plants, which are highly efficient and reliable sources of electricity despite their substantial investment costs. Nuclear plants reduce the fiscal burden on the state in the long term, especially as global gas import prices grow higher. At present, Egypt imports LNG and is purchasing a portion of the foreign partner's production share and utilising domestic output in order to meet rising demand driven by population growth. The cost of importing gas over two years is equivalent to the cost of establishing a nuclear power plant, he stated. According to Ministry of Petroleum figures, the average daily domestic consumption of natural gas in 2022-23 reached 5.9 billion cubic feet per day. Of this, 57 per cent was allocated to the electricity sector, 25 per cent to industry, 10 per cent to the petroleum and gas derivatives sector, six per cent to households, and two per cent to vehicles. According to the Egypt Vision 2030 Strategy, the government is working to increase the share of new and renewable energy in electricity generation to 35 per cent by 2030 and 42 per cent by 2035, up from the current level of 4.5 per cent. Gas and petroleum are the main sources of electricity generation, accounting for 90 per cent of total output. By 2030, Egypt's planned energy mix is expected to comprise 27 per cent oil and gas, five per cent hydroelectric power, 16 per cent solar energy, 14 per cent wind energy, 29 per cent coal, and nine per cent nuclear energy. Gamal Al-Qalioubi, a professor of energy engineering, said that accelerating the development of new and renewable energy plants is the optimal path towards reducing gas imports and reallocating available gas to export-lucrative industries such as fertilisers, cement, and petrochemicals. This objective has been announced by the government, which aims to add 39,000 Megawatts of new and renewable energy capacity by 2030, of which seven Megawatts have been implemented to date. As a result, wind and solar power plants should be brought online over the next four years at a rate of 10 Megawatts per year. Al-Qalioubi added that several wind and solar plants are under construction. Had these projects been expedited and connected to the national grid before May 2025, the financial burden on the state to import natural gas would have decreased. He referred to the 'Wafi' programme implemented by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation in collaboration with the European Union, which seeks to replace diesel power plants with clean energy facilities. Every time a clean energy plant enters operation, a conventional and polluting plant is decommissioned. The programme supports the government's strategy to conserve natural gas used in electricity generation and redirect it to high value-added industrial sectors. * A version of this article appears in print in the 5 June, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
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2 hours ago
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CAIRO – June 7, 2025: Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration Badr Abdelatty held separate phone calls on Saturday with his counterparts from Nigeria and Cyprus, as part of Egypt's ongoing diplomatic efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and coordinate on regional developments. Egypt–Nigeria Relations In his call with Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdelatty praised the long-standing and distinguished relations between Egypt and Nigeria. He expressed his aspiration to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic, trade, and investment sectors—with special emphasis on agriculture. The Egyptian Minister highlighted the growing presence and activity of Egyptian companies across Africa and voiced interest in exploring new investment opportunities through joint ventures that bring mutual benefit. The two ministers exchanged views on current developments across the African continent, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and coordination within the African Union to promote peace and security—especially in the Sahel region. Minister Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's readiness to support Nigeria in combating terrorism and extremism, underlining Egypt's willingness to assist through capacity building initiatives and educational cooperation, including support from Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in countering extremist ideologies. The discussion also covered developments in the Middle East, particularly the situation in Gaza. Abdelatty outlined Egypt's efforts to secure a ceasefire and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, strongly condemning Israel's continued violations of international and humanitarian law, and its policies against Palestinian civilians. He emphasized the need for urgent international action to end the war and ensure humanitarian access. Strengthening Egypt–Cyprus Ties Separately, Minister Abdelatty received a phone call from Constantinos Kombos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, as part of the ongoing dialogue aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation and exchanging perspectives on regional issues. Abdelatty reaffirmed the historical and friendly ties between Egypt and Cyprus and expressed Egypt's keenness to expand cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and employment. He also emphasized the importance of continuing collaboration on facilitating Egyptian labor in Cyprus. The Egyptian minister expressed appreciation for Cyprus's continued support for Egypt within the European Union, especially concerning the European financial assistance package allocated to Egypt. The two ministers also reviewed regional and international developments of mutual concern, with a special focus on the Gaza crisis. Abdelatty briefed his Cypriot counterpart on Egypt's diplomatic and humanitarian efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire and ensuring aid delivery. Both sides agreed on the importance of continued coordination to de-escalate tensions and support regional stability and security.
