Towards improving air quality and public health, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has awarded a technical assistance grant to the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC). This grant aims to assist Egypt in reducing methane emissions in its oil and gas industry, a significant contributor to global climate change and local pollution.
Reducing Methane Emissions to Improve Public Health and Environmental Standards
The USTDA’s technical assistance grant is focused on identifying key sources of methane emissions in Egypt’s oil and gas sector, as well as pinpointing U.S. suppliers of technology solutions that can help mitigate these emissions. By developing a comprehensive roadmap, the initiative will help lower emissions across Egypt’s energy sector, significantly improving the country’s air quality and public health.
Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director, emphasized the pivotal role of U.S. innovations in addressing these global challenges, saying, “U.S. industry is a global leader of innovation in this area, and USTDA is proud to support Egypt’s ambitions while opening doors for U.S. solutions.”
IHS Global to Lead the Technical Assistance
For the technical assistance, EGPC has selected IHS Global Inc., a Colorado-based firm, to conduct a comprehensive study. The project will assess the potential for methane reduction projects and evaluate methods to monetize methane abatement, helping to unlock new economic opportunities within the sector. By identifying the sources of emissions, IHS Global will provide actionable insights to mitigate emissions and enhance Egypt’s energy security.
Supporting Egypt’s Global Methane Pledge Commitment
This initiative is also part of Egypt’s broader efforts to meet its commitments under the Global Methane Pledge, which aims to reduce methane emissions by 30% below 2020 levels by 2030. The USTDA’s support is in line with the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, which fosters sustainable infrastructure projects, and USTDA’s Global Partnership for Climate-Smart Infrastructure.
Creating Sustainable Infrastructure and Economic Growth
The grant will help reduce harmful emissions and foster sustainable infrastructure in Egypt. Herro Mustafa Garg, U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, highlighted the dual benefits of the grant: “USTDA grants such as this one help to develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in Egypt, creating good jobs for Americans and Egyptians and promoting two-way trade and investment.”
By advancing this project, USTDA helps lay the groundwork for Egypt to become a leader in climate-smart infrastructure while opening new avenues for collaboration between Egypt and U.S. companies. Amb. Carlos Pascual of S&P Global, representing IHS Global, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “We are very pleased to have been selected by EGPC and the Ministry to perform this technical assistance. This should be instrumental in supporting Egypt’s leadership to launch a systematic program that creates a replicable path to address methane emissions in the petroleum sector.”
A Strategic Partnership for Climate Solutions
The collaboration between USTDA, Egypt, and U.S. industry partners represents a strategic effort to address climate challenges, create jobs, and provide energy security for Egypt. By leveraging advanced U.S. technologies and expertise, Egypt has the potential to significantly reduce its methane emissions while bolstering its role in global climate action.
As the world grapples with the urgent need to address climate change, this project exemplifies the power of international partnerships and the importance of adopting climate-smart solutions for a sustainable future.
