Egypt Launches EGYPS 2022 Amid Efforts to Transform Cairo into a Regional Energy Hub

EGYPS Ministerial panel in Cairo (Asharq Al-Awsat)
EGYPS Ministerial panel in Cairo (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Egypt Launches EGYPS 2022 Amid Efforts to Transform Cairo into a Regional Energy Hub

EGYPS Ministerial panel in Cairo (Asharq Al-Awsat)
EGYPS Ministerial panel in Cairo (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Egypt Petroleum Show 2022 (EGYPS) kicked off its fifth edition in Cairo with broad international participation, amid rapid steps to transform Egypt into a regional energy hub.

Egyptian gas plays a vital role in securing part of the energy needs of European countries by exporting surplus gas produced from gas fields or imported through the gas liquefaction stations in Idku and Damietta.

It increased Egypt's natural gas exports in light of the rise in global prices.

Egypt's Petroleum Minister Tarek el-Molla announced that the petroleum sector's exports increased 85 percent during the past year to reach about $13 billion.

Molla clarified that the unification of efforts must accompany Egypt's summit hosting.

He asserted that Egypt and African countries are committed to the Paris Agreement and all climate-related agreements, noting that African countries are among the nations that cause the least harmful emissions.

Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency (IEA) CEO, Fatih Birol, announced at the EGYPS 2022 conference that Egypt officially joined the agency as a member.

Birol praised Egypt's remarkable success stories, adding that Egypt, Africa, and the world are at a defining moment in energy and climate.

He affirmed complete support for Egypt in light of its hosting of the COP27 global climate summit and its leadership of Africa to come up with decisions from the conference that suit the continent, which suffers from significant challenges represented in the window for electricity and cooking by primitive means that result in disasters.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi attended a ministerial session on energy transformation and efforts to combat climate change in Africa in preparation for COP27 Climate Summit, held next November in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union Commission Amani Abo Zeid stressed that considering energy availability for African people is a priority in enhancing access and exploiting energy in manufacturing industries.

Abo Zeid indicated that about 900 million people in Africa use primitive cooking methods, which leaves serious health effects that lead to the death of about 400,000 annually.

She praised the "Decent Life" initiative and its services, noting the importance of unifying efforts and African cooperation.

The official called for benefiting from Egypt's capabilities and expertise, especially in natural gas delivery projects, and converting means of transportation to gas.

She referred to the successful launch of a single African energy market, which began last June and is expected to become the most significant global market for energy exchange by 2040.

For his part, Minister of Minerals and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea Gabriel Obiang Lima said that the African continent must have its green plans, reiterating that energy sustainability is essential as a priority that precedes the energy transition.

Lima stressed the importance of natural gas and a transitional fuel, similar to the Egyptian experience.

He expressed his aspiration to benefit from Egypt in leading African countries to promote the uses of green energy.



US, China Reach Deal to Cut Trade Deficit, US Officials Say

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (L) and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speak to the media after talks between seniors US and Chinese officials on tariffs at the residence of the permanent Swiss ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on May 11, 2025. (Photo by VALENTIN FLAURAUD / AFP)
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (L) and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speak to the media after talks between seniors US and Chinese officials on tariffs at the residence of the permanent Swiss ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on May 11, 2025. (Photo by VALENTIN FLAURAUD / AFP)
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US, China Reach Deal to Cut Trade Deficit, US Officials Say

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (L) and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speak to the media after talks between seniors US and Chinese officials on tariffs at the residence of the permanent Swiss ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on May 11, 2025. (Photo by VALENTIN FLAURAUD / AFP)
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (L) and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speak to the media after talks between seniors US and Chinese officials on tariffs at the residence of the permanent Swiss ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on May 11, 2025. (Photo by VALENTIN FLAURAUD / AFP)

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday reported "substantial progress" in US talks with China's top economic officials to de-escalate a damaging trade war, but offered no details of an agreement reached as two days of negotiations wrapped up in Geneva.
Bessent told reporters that details would be announced on Monday and that US President Donald Trump was fully aware of the results of the "productive talks."
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who participated in the talks with Bessent, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and two Chinese vice ministers, described the conclusion as "a deal we struck with our Chinese partners" that will help reduce the $1.2 trillion US global goods trade deficit.
"And this was, as the Secretary pointed out, a very constructive two days. It's important to understand how quickly we were able to come to agreement, which reflects that perhaps the differences were not so large as maybe thought," Greer said, adding that the Chinese officials were "tough negotiators"
The meeting was the first face-to-face interaction between Bessent, Greer and He since the world's two largest economies imposed tariffs well above 100% on each other's goods.
Although Bessent has said the bilateral tariffs were too high and needed to come down in a de-escalation move, he did not offer any details of reductions agreed and took no questions from reporters, Reuters said.
Earlier, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said the Chinese were "very, very eager" to engage in discussions and rebalance trade relations with the United States.
Hassett also told Fox News that more foreign trade deals could be coming with other countries as soon as this week.
Overnight, Trump gave a positive reading of the talks, saying the two sides had negotiated "a total reset... in a friendly, but constructive, manner."
"A very good meeting today with China, in Switzerland. Many things discussed, much agreed to," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
"We want to see, for the good of both China and the US, an opening up of China to American business. GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!," Trump added, without elaborating on the progress.
Speaking on "Sunday Morning Futures" on Fox News with Maria Bartiromo, Hassett said Beijing is eager to re-set trade relations with the United States.
"It looks like the Chinese are very, very eager to play ball and to re-normalize things," Hassett said.
Hassett also said more trade deal announcements could be imminent following last week's announcement of an agreement with the United Kingdom. He said he had been briefed by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on two dozen pending deals in development with USTR Greer.
"They all look a little bit like the UK deal but each one is bespoke," Hassett said.
GATED VILLA
The negotiating teams met at the gated villa of Switzerland's UN ambassador, overlooking Lake Geneva in the leafy suburb of Cologny. Black Mercedes vans with sirens shuttled to and from the venue, which was bathed in bright sunshine.
Neutral Switzerland was chosen as the venue following approaches by Swiss politicians on recent visits to China and the United States.
Washington is seeking to reduce its $295 billion goods trade deficit with Beijing and persuade China to renounce what the United States says is a mercantilist economic model and contribute more to global consumption, a shift that would require politically sensitive domestic reforms.