Egypt Aims to Meet Europe’s Growing Demand for Energy  

The Egyptian Minister of Petroleum, the Swedish ambassador in Cairo and a delegation from the European Union during an event hosted by the Swedish embassy on the energy link between Egypt and Europe, on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Egyptian Minister of Petroleum, the Swedish ambassador in Cairo and a delegation from the European Union during an event hosted by the Swedish embassy on the energy link between Egypt and Europe, on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Egypt Aims to Meet Europe’s Growing Demand for Energy  

The Egyptian Minister of Petroleum, the Swedish ambassador in Cairo and a delegation from the European Union during an event hosted by the Swedish embassy on the energy link between Egypt and Europe, on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Egyptian Minister of Petroleum, the Swedish ambassador in Cairo and a delegation from the European Union during an event hosted by the Swedish embassy on the energy link between Egypt and Europe, on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Swedish Embassy in Cairo hosted a panel discussion with European and Egyptian policy makers and representatives of the business community to discuss policies, priorities and financial mechanisms to support the energy transition and link Europe and Egypt in this field.

This comes amid efforts by European Union countries to achieve energy security while seeking to reach carbon neutrality.

Sweden’s ambassador to Egypt Hakan Emsgard said: “The demand for sustainable energy in Europe is increasing, and Egypt is in a good position to provide the continent with this energy... This will benefit both sides economically, and will also benefit the climate, as energy can be used more efficiently and sustainably.”

Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tarek El-Moulla stressed that the geopolitical tensions and fluctuations in the energy market pushed countries to further diversify their energy sources in order to achieve energy security.

He said energy security and energy neutrality were two complementary goals, adding that Egypt aims to play a key role in the flow of global energy trade and to promote a better environment to ensure continued cooperation.

“Egypt has proven that it possesses the keys to being a regional hub for gas and oil through its strategic location, well-established energy industry and strong infrastructure,” El-Moulla emphasized.

Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt Ambassador Christian Berger said: “If we want to offer a green deal for Europe, and make the European Union a model for a just and sustainable transition, we believe we cannot do it alone. We need to invite and help others to do the same. Then, we will be able to really influence the future of our world.”



Oil Edges Up ahead of US Fed Rate Decision, 2025 Outlook

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
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Oil Edges Up ahead of US Fed Rate Decision, 2025 Outlook

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Oil edged up on Wednesday as a drop in US crude inventories offered some support, although investors stayed cautious ahead of a potential interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve and its projections for 2025.

Brent futures rose 53 cents, or 0.7%, to $73.72 a barrel at 1436 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 54 cents, or 0.8%, to $70.62.

The Fed is expected to cut rates by a quarter point, but to signal a cautious approach to loosening monetary policy next year.

"A quarter-point cut itself is unlikely to shake markets much. Investors may focus more on hints and clues on how likely a January pause is, as well as on how many rate cuts policymakers are contemplating throughout 2025," said Charalampos Pissouros, senior investment analyst at brokerage XM, Reuters reported.

The US central bank will release its policy statement at 2 p.m. ET (1900 GMT), followed by remarks from Chair Jerome Powell.

Lower rates decrease borrowing costs, which can boost economic growth and demand for oil.

"Oil prices ought to see more of a reaction to the crude inventory draw seen in the API data overnight... however, such is the diverting power of central bank rate decisions that investors in all of the trading mediums are taking a very light touch to proceedings" said John Evans, analyst with oil broker PVM.

In the US, American Petroleum Institute data on Tuesday showed that crude stocks fell by 4.69 million barrels in the week ended Dec. 13, a source said. Gasoline inventories rose by 2.45 million barrels, and distillate stocks rose by 744,000 barrels, according to the source.

Analysts projected US energy firms pulled about 1.6 million barrels of crude from storage during the week ended Dec. 13, according to a Reuters poll on Tuesday.

The US Energy Information Administration will release its oil storage data on Wednesday.

"Trade war fears and uncertainty on how aggressively the US Fed will cut interest rates next year is likely capping the upside for now," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.