Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat met with the Greek Minister of Environment and Energy, Theodoros Skylakakis, at the Ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. Greece’s Ambassador to Cairo, Nikolaos Papageorgiou, and Deputy Minister for Electricity and Renewable Energy, Sabah Mashaly, also attended the meeting. Their discussions centred on the progress of the Egypt-Greece electrical interconnection project, which has strong governmental backing from both nations.
They also explored opportunities to enhance collaboration in renewable energy, green hydrogen, technological innovation, and knowledge exchange. The strategic significance of the electrical interconnection was highlighted, particularly about the broader Euro-African interconnection project aimed at bolstering energy security and enabling the exchange of clean electricity between the continents.
This initiative aligns with Egypt’s goal of diversifying its energy sources through renewable investments, reducing fuel consumption, and lowering carbon emissions. It also encourages private sector involvement in clean energy initiatives as part of Egypt’s sustainable energy strategy.
The meeting focused on accelerating the implementation of the Egypt-Greece interconnection project. It discussed technical, financial, and regulatory aspects, as well as collaboration in technological innovation and knowledge transfer, particularly in energy storage and integrating renewable sources into electricity grids.
Both ministers considered necessary reinforcements for the Egyptian and Greek networks and the exchange of expertise in various sectors related to electricity and renewable energy.
Minister Esmat praised the productive cooperation between Egypt and Greece, which enhances Egypt’s role as a regional energy hub capable of exporting renewable energy, particularly from solar and wind sources, to European markets.
He emphasized the strong ties between the two countries and the government’s commitment to enhancing cooperation in electrical interconnection. Esmat underscored the need for increased renewable energy generation capacity and the modernization of electricity grids, stressing the importance of collaboration in all electricity and renewable energy areas.
He noted that electrical energy is a top priority for Egypt, crucial for development across various sectors. Esmat highlighted the country’s abundant natural resources, particularly in wind and solar energy, and outlined recent legislative changes aimed at facilitating investment in this field. These changes reflect the government’s dedication to renewable energy as part of its energy security and mix strategy, aligning with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and Energy Strategy 2040 for sustainable development.
Minister Skylakakis expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s efforts to advance the renewable energy sector. They affirmed that the electrical interconnection with Egypt is a strategic project for Greece and Europe. He emphasized that this initiative would secure clean, sustainable energy sources and support the European Union’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
After the meeting, both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the project promptly and positioning it as a model for regional energy cooperation.