Egypt re-elected to chair Arab Electricity Council’s Executive Bureau for second consecutive term

Egypt has been unanimously re-elected to chair the Executive Bureau of the Arab Ministerial Council for Electricity for a second consecutive term, with Algeria elected vice-chair, the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy said.

The decision was taken during the 16th session of the Arab Ministerial Council for Electricity, hosted by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh over two days, with the participation of Arab electricity ministers, official delegations, experts, representatives of the Arab League’s energy department and international financing institutions.

The re-election reflects Egypt’s role in supporting joint Arab cooperation within the framework of the League of Arab States, the ministry said.

Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, said Egypt would continue working with Arab partners to implement the Arab Common Electricity Market Agreement and advance comprehensive electricity interconnection across the region.

The agreement was signed during the council’s 15th session, hosted by Egypt in the New Administrative Capital.

Establishing a common Arab electricity market would mark the culmination of nearly two decades of efforts to achieve comprehensive electricity interconnection among Arab countries and establish an integrated regional market, Esmat said.

He highlighted the importance of completing joint Arab electricity interconnection projects to establish an integrated market operating according to economic principles.

Esmat cited the Egypt–Saudi Arabia electricity interconnection project, which has entered trial operation, as a model and a foundation for expanding electricity interconnection across the Arab region.

He added that the next phase would require stronger cooperation, coordinated efforts and faster completion of the necessary procedures, alongside the development of an institutional framework to manage the common market.

The minister also stressed the importance of exchanging expertise, building capacity and training personnel to address challenges, capitalise on available opportunities and apply modern technologies to the operation and management of the Arab Common Electricity Market.