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.



Turkish Central Bank 2024 Loss Around $18 billion

A logo of Türkiye's Central Bank is pictured at the entrance to its headquarters in Ankara, Türkiye February 8, 2024. REUTERS/Cagla Gurdogan/File Photo
A logo of Türkiye's Central Bank is pictured at the entrance to its headquarters in Ankara, Türkiye February 8, 2024. REUTERS/Cagla Gurdogan/File Photo
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Turkish Central Bank 2024 Loss Around $18 billion

A logo of Türkiye's Central Bank is pictured at the entrance to its headquarters in Ankara, Türkiye February 8, 2024. REUTERS/Cagla Gurdogan/File Photo
A logo of Türkiye's Central Bank is pictured at the entrance to its headquarters in Ankara, Türkiye February 8, 2024. REUTERS/Cagla Gurdogan/File Photo

Türkiye 's central bank posted a loss of 700.4 billion lira ($18.4 billion) in 2024, according to its balance sheet published in the Official Gazette on Tuesday.

In 2023, the bank had posted a loss of 818.2 billion lira (or $25 billion at that time).

The loss, stemming from a foreign exchange-protected deposit scheme, prompted the central bank to pass on distributing profit to the Treasury in 2023 and now in 2024, Reuters reported.

The central bank will convene its general assembly on April 30 in Ankara to discuss the 2024 results.

Meanwhile, the Turkish budget showed a deficit of 261.5 billion lira ($6.87 billion) in March, while there was a primary deficit of 100.2 billion lira, the Treasury and Finance Ministry said on Tuesday.