Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has put forward a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing Arab energy security during the annual ministerial meeting of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), held on Sunday in Kuwait.
Speaking at the meeting, Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi said Egypt is proposing the establishment of a coordinated Arab mechanism for emergency procurement of crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), as part of efforts to bolster regional energy resilience.
Badawi explained that Egypt’s proposals include developing an “Arab Energy Interconnection Map 2030” to identify priority projects across the region. These would focus on pipelines, reception terminals, and the transportation of crude oil and LNG, with the goal of improving integration and supply security among Arab states.
The initiatives also call for the creation of a joint Arab mechanism to coordinate emergency purchases of crude oil and LNG, as well as to facilitate the exchange of shipments among member states when needed, particularly during supply disruptions or market volatility.
In addition, Egypt proposed launching a digital platform for OAPEC member countries to showcase investment opportunities across the energy value chain. The platform would cover upstream activities such as exploration and production, as well as refining, petrochemicals, storage, trading, transportation, and new and renewable energy projects.
Badawi said the proposals reflect Egypt’s commitment to deeper Arab cooperation in the energy sector, emphasizing the importance of coordination, infrastructure integration, and investment facilitation to address current and future energy challenges facing the region.
