Energy in Egypt

This article describes the energy and electricity production, consumption and import in Egypt.

The Aswan High Dam provides Hydro power for Egypt
Energy consumption by source, Egypt
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Overview
Energy in Egypt[1]
Population Primary energy
(TWh)		 Production
(TWh)		 Export
(TWh)		 Electricity
(TWh)		 CO2-emission
(Mt)
200472.646627527188141
200775.47782957153111169
200881.518221,018180116174
200983.008371,026174123175
201286.42138188
Change 2004-0914.3%27%36%145%40%25%
Mtoe = 11.63 TWh, Prim. energy includes energy losses

Electricity
Main article: Electricity sector in Egypt

Petroleum

Crude oil
Oil refining in Alexandria

Egypt has the sixth-largest proved oil reserves in Africa. Over half of these reserves are offshore reserves. Although Egypt is not a member of OPEC, it is a member of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries.[2]

As of 2005, Egypt's proven oil reserves were estimated at 3.7 billion bbl (590 million m3), of which 2.9 billion bbl (460 million m3) was crude oil and 0.8 billion bbl (130 million m3) were natural gas liquids.[2] Oil production in 2005 was 696,000 barrels per day (110,700 m3/d), (down from 922,000 barrels per day (146,600 m3/d) in 1996), of which crude oil accounted for 554,000 barrels per day (88,100 m3/d).[2]

The National oil company is the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation.

Egypt is estimated to hold 12,446 million barrels (1,980 million cubic metres) initial recoverable liquid reserves. After decades of production, it is estimated that the country has approximately 1,888.9 million bbl (300 million m3) recoverable oil remaining, as of January 2011. These figures indicate that 83% of Egypt's recoverable oil reserves have been depleted.[3][4]

Shale oil

The Safaga-Quseir area of the Eastern Desert is estimated to have reserves equivalent about 4.5 million barrels (720×10^3 m3) of in-place shale oil and the Abu Tartour area of the Western Desert is estimated to have about 1.2 million barrels (190×10^3 m3) of in-place shale oil. The 1000 to 2000 foot thick and organically rich, total organic content of about 4%, Khatatba Formation in the Western Desert is the source rock for wells there and is a potential source for shale oil and shale gas.[5] Apache Corporation, using substantial assets acquired in 2010 from BP after the Deepwater Horizon disaster, is the major operator in the Western Desert,[6] often in joint ventures with Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) such as Khalda Petroleum Company and Qarun Petroleum Company. In 1996 Apache merged with Phoenix Resources, which had made the Qarun discovery in 1994, and took over operations of the Qarun Concession in Egypt.[7] Apache has developed about 18% of the 10 million acres it controls, in 2012 running a score of rigs; drilling about 200 development and injection wells; and about 50 exploration wells with a success rate of about 55%. Plans for 2013 included an investment of about $1 billion in development and exploration.[8] On 29 August 2013 Apache announced sale of a 1/3 share of its Egyptian assets to Sinopec for $3.1 billion effective 1 January 2014; Apache would continue to be the operator.[9]

Oil shale

Oil shale resources were red in the Safaga-Quseir area of the Eastern Desert in the 1940s. The oil shale in the Red Sea area could be extracted by underground mining. In the Abu Tartour are, oil shale be mined as byproduct whilst mining for phosphates. Oil shale in Egypt is foreseen as a potential fuel for the power generation.[10]

Natural gas
Natural gas fields in Egypt

As of 2005, Egypt's reserves of natural gas are estimated at 66 trillion cubic feet (1.9×10^12 m3), which are the third largest in Africa.[11] Egypt's production of natural gas was estimated at 2,000 billion cubic feet (57×10^9 m3) in 2013, of which almost 1,900 billion cubic feet (54×10^9 m3) was domestically consumed.[12]

Natural gas is exported by the Arab Gas Pipeline to the Middle East and in the future potentially to Europe. When completed, it will have a total length of 1,200 kilometres (750 mi).[13] Natural gas is also exported as liquefied natural gas (LNG), produced at the plants of Egyptian LNG and SEGAS LNG.[14] BP and Eni, the Italian oil and gas company, together with Gas Natural Fenosa of Spain, built major liquefied natural gas facilities in Egypt for the export market, but the plants were largely idled as domestic gas consumption has soared.[15]

In March 2015, BP signed a $12 billion deal to develop natural gas in Egypt intended for sale in the domestic market starting in 2017.[15] BP said it would develop a large quantity of offshore gas, equivalent to about one-quarter of Egypt's output, and bring it onshore for domestic consumers. Gas from the project, called West Nile Delta, was expected to begin flowing in 2017. BP said that additional exploration might double the amount of gas available.

In September 2015, Eni announced the discovery of the Zohr gas field, largest in the Mediterranean. The field was estimated at 30 trillion cubic feet (850×109 m³) of total gas in place.[16][17][18]

Dolphinus Holdings Ltd provides gas from Israeli fields to Egypt.[19][20][21][22] In November 2019, Egypt signed a number of energy deals at a conference, including a $430-million deal for Texas-based Noble Energy to pump natural gas through the East Mediterranean Gas Co's pipeline.[23]

Nuclear power
Main article: Nuclear power in Egypt

Egypt has been considering the use of nuclear energy for decades: in 1964, a 150 MWe and in 1974 a 600 MWe, nuclear power stations were proposed. The Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA) was established in 1976, and in 1983 the El Dabaa site on the Mediterranean coast was selected.[24] Egypt's nuclear plans, however, were shelved after the Chernobyl accident. In 2006, Egypt announced it would revive its civilian nuclear power programme, and build a 1,000 MW nuclear power station at El Dabaa. Its estimated cost at the time was US$1.5bn, and the plans were to do the construction with the help of foreign investors.[25] In March 2008, Egypt signed an agreement with Russia on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.[26] In 2015, contracts were signed with a Russian company to begin the building of the plant at El Dabaa.[27][28]

Renewable energy

The energy strategy in Egypt adopted by the Supreme Council of Energy in February 2008 is to increase renewable energy generation up to 20% of the total mix by 2020.[29]

Hydropower
Power plant of the Aswan High Dam, with the dam itself in the background

The majority of Egypt's electricity supply is generated from thermal and hydropower stations.[29] The four main hydroelectric generating stations currently operating in Egypt are the Aswan Low Dam, the Esna Dam, the Aswan High Dam, and the Naga Hamady Barrages. The Asyut Barrage hydropower plant is scheduled to be commissioned and added as a fifth station in 2016.[30]

Almost all hydroelectric generation in Egypt comes from the Aswan High Dam. The Aswan High Dam has a theoretical generating capacity of 2.1GW; however, the dam is rarely able to operate at full design capacity due to low water levels. An ongoing refurbishment program is being enacted to not only increase the generating capacity of the dam to 2.4GW, but also extend the operational life of the turbines by about 40 years.[29][31]

In 2011, Egypt produced 156.6 TWh gross, of which 12.9 TWh came from hydroelectric generation. The per capita consumption of electricity at the end of 2012 was 1910 kWh/yr, while Egypt's hydropower potential in 2012 was about 3,664 MW.[24][29][31] As of 2009–2013, hydropower made up about 12% of Egypt's total installed power generation capacity – a small decline from 2006 to 2007 when hydropower made up about 12.8%.[29][30][31] The percentage of hydropower energy is steadily declining due to all major conventional hydropower sites already having been developed with a limited potential for further increase in generating capacity. Outside of the Aswan High Dam, the other hydropower sites are considered very modest and most new generation plants being built in Egypt are based on fossil fuels.[29][31]

Even with the addition of the Asyut Barrage hydropower plant in 2016, hydropower development in Egypt is still lagging as the existing and developed hydropower plants are no longer being constructed at a rate that can support the increasing electricity consumption in Egypt.[30] The population of Egypt has increased by 14.3% in the five-year period from 2004 to 2009 (OECD/World Bank). Every six months there are 1 million more Egyptians. Energy production grew by 36% between 2004 and 2009.[32]

The only remaining significant hydropower site that is currently undeveloped is the Qattara Depression. Several schemes have been proposed through the years to implement a Qattara Depression Project. None of which have been executed due to prohibitive capital costs and technical difficulties. Depending on the generating scheme chosen the Qattara Depression could potentially generate anywhere from 670MW to 6800MW.

Solar

Egypt has a high solar availability as a result of its hot desert climate. The total capacity of installed photovoltaic systems is about 4.5 MWp. They are used in remote areas for water pumping, desalination, rural clinics, telecommunications, rural village electrification, etc.[33] The proposed large-scale solar power project Desertec also involves Egypt.

In some areas, the country receives over 4,000 hours of sunshine per year, which is among the highest quantities registered in the world. Due to the sharp population growth and a series of blackouts during the summer caused by a supply shortage, Egyptian demand for solar energy is increasing. However, only 1% of the electricity is produced by solar energy. The majority of solar energy available in the country derives from small-scale projects. Modestly-sized projects, up to 10 MW, are constituted by hybrid solar/diesel solutions, which are developed by the Emirati company Masdar.

In 2019 Egypt completed one of the biggest solar installations in the world, Benban Solar Park, which generates 1.8 GW to power 1 million homes.[34][35][36]

In 2021, Egypt signed contracts worth $700 million with the Kom Ombo Solar Energy Complex which would create 10,000 jobs. The contracts include 32 solar energy projects.[37]

Wind
Wind farm at Zaafarana

Egypt has a high potential for wind energy, especially in the Red Sea coast area. As of 2021, 1640 MW of wind energy was installed.[38]

Egypt ranks third in Africa with 1,702 MW at the end of 2022, behind South Africa (3,442 MW) and Morocco (1,788 MW); new installations were 237 MW in 2021 and none in 2022.[39]

See also

References
  1. IEA Key World Energy Statistics Statistics 2013, 2012 Archived 9 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine, 2011 Archived 27 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, 2010 Archived 11 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine, 2009 Archived 7 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine, 2006 Archived 12 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine IEA October, crude oil p.11, coal p. 13 gas p. 15
  2. WEC, p.76
  3. "2/3 of Egypt's oil is gone 20 years after its peak".
  4. "Liquid Production: A look at the past present and future of Egypt's liquid reserves – Egypt Oil & Gas".
  5. "Technically Recoverable Shale Oil and Shale Gas Resources: An Assessment of 137 Shale Formations in 41 Countries Outside the United States" (PDF). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). June 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  6. Matt Bradley (8 June 2011). "Apache hopeful shale drilling takes off in Egypt Stories". Market Watch. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  7. "Our Egyptian Region". Apache Corporation. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  8. "Egypt Region Overview". Apache Corporation. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  9. Michael J. de la Merced (29 August 2013). "Apache to Sell Stake in Egyptian Holdings to Sinopec for $3.1 Billion". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  10. WEC, p. 107
  11. WEC, p. 176
  12. "Egypt: international energy data and analysis". US Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  13. "Lebanon minister in Syria to discuss the Arab Gas Pipeline". Ya Libnan. 23 February 2008. Archived from the original on 28 February 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2008.
  14. "SEGAS Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Complex, Damietta, Egypt". Hydrocarbons Technology. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
  15. "BP Signs 12 Billion Deal to Develop Natural Gas in Egypt". The New York Times 7 March 2015
  16. "Eni discovers a supergiant gas field in the Egyptian offshore, the largest ever found in the Mediterranean Sea". Eni (press release). 30 August 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  17. "Italy's Eni Finds 'Supergiant' Natural Gas Field Off Egypt". The New York Times. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  18. "Eni discovers largest known gas field in Mediterranean". The Guardian. Reuters. 30 August 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  19. Rabinovitch, Ari (18 March 2015). "Israel's Tamar group to sell gas to Egypt via pipeline". Reuters. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  20. Gutman, Lior (5 May 2015). "דולפינוס פתחה במו"מ עם EMG להולכת הגז ממאגר תמר למצרים" [Dolphinus commences negotiations for the use of EMG's pipeline] (in Hebrew). Calcalist. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  21. Scheer, Steven; Rabinovitch, Avi (25 November 2015). "Developers of Israel's Leviathan field sign preliminary Egypt gas deal". Reuters. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  22. Feteha, Ahmed; Elyan, Tamim (2 December 2015). "Egypt's Dolphinus Sees Gas Import Deal With Israel in Months". Reuters. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  23. "Egypt signs energy accords at conference in new capital". Reuters. 23 November 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  24. "Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries". World Nuclear Association. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  25. "Egypt unveils nuclear power plan". BBC News. 25 September 2006. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  26. "Middle Eastern nations do nuclear diplomacy". World Nuclear News. 25 March 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  27. Shay, Shaul (November 2015). "The Egypt – Russia nuclear deal" (PDF). Herzliya Conference. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  28. "VVER reactor and El-Dabaa". The Middle East Observer. The Middle East Observer. 14 September 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  29. Razavi, Hossein (2012). "Clean Energy Development in Egypt" (PDF). African Development Bank (AfDB) Group. Retrieved 4 May 2015. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  30. Gawdat, Bahgat (2013). "Egypt's Energy Outlook: Opportunities and Challenges". Mediterranean Quarterly. 24: 12–37. doi:10.1215/10474552-1895367. S2CID 155006591.
  31. Ibrahim, A (2012). "Renewable energy sources in the Egyptian electricity market: A review". Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews. 16 (1): 216–230. ISSN 1364-0321.
  32. IEA Key World Energy Statistics 2011 Archived 27 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, 2010 Archived 11 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine, 2009 Archived 7 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine, 2006 Archived 12 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine IEA October, crude oil p.11, coal p. 13 gas p. 15
  33. WEC, pp.403–404
  34. "Egypt Builds World's Largest Solar Plant as Part of Energy Transformation". e360.yale.edu. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  35. "In Egypt, Regulatory Challenges Overshadow Solar Energy Potential". Fanack.com. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  36. "A New Solar Park Shines a Light on Egypt's Energy Potential". International Finance Corporation. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  37. "Egypt signs $700 renewable energy contracts in Kom Ombo Complex". Arab News. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  38. "Global wind statistics" (PDF). IRENA. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  39. Global Wind Report 2023 (pdf) (Report). Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). April 2023. p. 102.

Citations
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