Mediterranean Action Plan

EGYPT - National study
Petroleum
Percentage
3650 3750 4250 4540 5020 7400 7620 8390 7590 8280
share (%) 4.39 4.40 4.54 4.67 4.90 6.72 6.89 7.09 6.16 6.04
10247 10998 11068
Total 83070 85260 93660 97220 0 0 0
Source: the Organization for Energy Planning (OEP), different annual reports
11826
0
12322
0
13711
0
Over the next fifty years, total commercial energy consumed in Egypt is projected to continue
to increase. There is however some debate as to the rate of increase in demand. Some
believe that the rate of increase will be high, leading to greater concerns about the
sustainable supply of hydrocarbon-based energy and the impact on the global environment.
Others believe that the rate of increase will generally stabilize or decline, either because of
proactive decisions to be more efficient in use of energy or because we find ourselves in an
energy-constrained situation which forces us to modify our demand for, and use of, energy.
Egypt national strategy study on the clean development mechanism (2003) has estimated a
GHG emissions annual growth rate of 4.9%from energy related activities. This would lead to
a contribution from energy in total GHG emissions in Egypt by 392000 Gg CO2 equivalent by
the year 2021/22.
Egypt has signed and ratified UNFCCC and Kyoto protocol, where both the convention and
the protocol have interred into force in 5/3/1995 and 12/4/2005 respectively. Egypt's official
position on current discussions and future negotiations concerning post 2012 is favorable to
the extension of Kyoto protocol beyond 2012.
1.4.3 Other Impacts on the Environment
The issues of greenhouse gases, global warming, climate change, and Mediterranean Sea
pollution are of great concern for Egypt. Global warming and climate change can affect the
low-lying levels of coastal zones, as well as affect agriculture crop pattern in the Nile delta.
ENE_CO4: Number of energy infrastructure on Mediterranean costal areas:
The following energy infrastructures currently exist in 2005/2006:
8 power stations (including 2 north of the Suez Gulf).
3 refineries
The plan for 2021/22 includes the following additional infrastructures:
4 power stations
2 refineries
In addition to the above-mentioned infrastructure, other impacts can be discussed as
follows:
Water Pollution
Oil spills are energy-related source of water pollution due to their devastating after effects.
About half of Europe‟s oil imports pass through the Red Sea, the Suez Canal and the
Mediterranean. In addition, substantial offshore oil explorations and drilling activities are
underway in Egypt‟s territorial waters. Similarly, water is an important component in thermal
electricity generation. Large electric power plants require large amounts of water for cooling.
Some plants are often built with “once through” cooling systems in which waste heat is
discharged directly into water bodies and could cause harm to the aquatic and marine life.
Effects on Ecosystems
This is an area of major concern in Egypt due to land use conflicts between development
projects, protected areas and oil and gas exploration, production and transmission,
specifically in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea coastlines. In addition, most of the oil
refineries and power stations exist in urban heavily populated centers such as Cairo,
Alexandria and Suez, causing adverse impacts on urban environment.
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