During the 9th International Seminar hosted by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi delivered a keynote address at the ministerial session titled “Pathways to a Resilient Energy Landscape.” Badawi underscored energy’s vital role in economic growth, emphasizing Egypt’s balanced strategy for an optimal energy mix. He detailed the approach, which includes boosting oil and gas production, reducing emissions and carbon intensity, and expanding renewable energy and hydrogen use to ensure a sustainable and secure energy future.
The session included senior officials from Venezuela, Equatorial Guinea, Azerbaijan, Canada, Senegal, and Spain.
On the sidelines of the OPEC seminar, Minister Badawi also met with Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of the French company TotalEnergies. Ehab Ragaee, First Undersecretary of the Ministry for Production, was also in attendance. Their discussion focused on updates regarding the improvement and increase of production rates in the North Hammada area of the Mediterranean Sea, specifically the Bashrush Development Area, a joint venture involving TotalEnergies, Eni, and bp. Moreover, the meeting explored opportunities for TotalEnergies to acquire new exploration areas in the Mediterranean and participate in upcoming bidding rounds and investment opportunities available through Egypt’s Exploration and Production Portal.
Badawi further held a meeting with Hayan Abdul Ghani Al-Sawad, Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil, and his accompanying delegation. The meeting focused on the latest developments in proposed cooperation projects between Egypt and Iraq, building on the outcomes of Minister Badawi’s official visit to Iraq last March with an Egyptian petroleum sector delegation. That visit aimed to enhance bilateral cooperation across various areas of the petroleum sector, notably in refining through the transportation of Iraqi oil for processing in Egyptian refineries.
The discussions also covered steps to boost the presence of specialized Egyptian companies in Iraq, particularly in project design, implementation, maintenance, and operation. Egyptian firms bring extensive expertise across various domains, positioning them to contribute significantly to Iraq’s infrastructure, petroleum, and gas projects.
Additionally, Badawi met with Larry Kaumeyer, Deputy Minister of Energy and Minerals for the Canadian Government of Alberta. Their discussion centered on potential joint cooperation opportunities in developing oil and natural gas exploration and production operations, especially in mature fields, leveraging Alberta’s significant expertise in this area. The talks also covered the exchange of expertise and best practices to boost exploration activities, aiming for improved operational efficiency and reduced costs. Finally, they explored ways to enhance cooperation and increase Canadian mining investments in Egypt, given both sides’ extensive experience in this vital sector.
