Egypt aims to increase its natural gas production by 20% to reach 1 billion cubic feet per day, revealed Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, adding “We are currently taking steps to work with our partners to ensure an environment that encourages expansion in production from existing fields, as well as in exploration and supply to markets.”

Badawi participated as a keynote speaker in the opening ministerial session of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Conference (ADIPEC 2024), where he stressed the importance of Egypt’s contribution to the energy export sector, including oil, with a focus on exploring gas and supplying it to markets.

In his speech at the start of the conference today, he highlighted that Egypt is considered a regional hub in this sector, with gas refining capacities of approximately 40 million tons.

The session addressed the challenges posed by the increasing global population and the resulting rise in energy demand. It also tackled the triple energy dilemma, which involves providing energy affordably and sustainably, alongside the associated challenges and opportunities.

Other participants were Suhail Mohamed Faris Al Mazrouei, the UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Hardeep Singh Puri, the Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas; and Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, the Ugandan Minister of Energy and Mineral Development.

Badawi emphasized that approximately 1 in 10 people worldwide lacks access to electricity and that the energy sector is responsible for a significant share of greenhouse gas emissions.

He noted that geopolitical conditions are pushing some countries to continue relying on non-renewable energy sources.

The petroleum minister called on the global community to provide support and the necessary technology to developing countries to achieve a fair energy transition that aligns with their economic circumstances.

He also discussed the role of artificial intelligence in supporting climate action and energy transition efforts by developing new materials for clean energy technologies, such as improving solar and wind energy resources, enhancing energy storage capabilities, and improving climate and weather forecasts to aid better energy planning, while accelerating innovations in green energy sources.

He pointed out the importance of utilizing artificial intelligence to enhance the renewable energy landscape and contribute to building a more sustainable world for future generations.