Cairo: Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi affirmed on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the depth of ties between Egypt and Norway, praising Norway’s pioneering experience in managing energy resources and developing technology, as well as the role played by major Norwegian companies as distinguished models in both conventional and renewable energy sectors.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the remarks came during a meeting between the petroleum minister and Norwegian Ambassador to Egypt Erik Husem. They discussed means of supporting the strategic partnership between the two countries in the energy sector, particularly in the fields of green transition, carbon emissions reduction, and the expansion of sustainable energy projects. The meeting also explored opportunities to attract investments from Norwegian companies in gas exploration activities in Egypt.
The minister highlighted Egypt’s interest in attracting major Norwegian companies to operate in gas exploration activities, especially focusing on Equinor. The meeting reviewed Equinor’s investment opportunities in exploration, prospecting, and production activities in the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, considering the promising opportunities these areas present.
He explained that Egypt’s petroleum sector places decarbonization projects among its strategic priorities. The country’s infrastructure, natural reservoirs, and regulatory and legislative efforts qualify it to implement carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies. This contributes to reducing the carbon footprint and enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian exports in European markets amid the global shift toward a low-carbon economy.
The Norwegian ambassador expressed pride in the existing cooperation with Egypt, affirming his country’s interest in supporting energy transition efforts. He emphasized the readiness of Norwegian companies to transfer expertise and modern technologies to the Egyptian market. He also praised the business model presented by Scatec in green hydrogen and green ammonia projects in Egypt, highlighting the cooperation between Scatec, Yara International, and Egypt’s MOPCO in the green ammonia project in Damietta.
The two sides agreed to formulate specific cooperation tracks for the next five years. At the conclusion of the meeting, the petroleum minister welcomed an invitation from the Norwegian ambassador to participate in the global ONS Conference in Stavanger next August, aiming to enhance technical and investment dialogue between the two sides.