Cairo: The Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) of the Cabinet has unveiled the inaugural edition of "Afaaq al-Taqa" (Energy Horizons), a peer-reviewed biannual scientific journal. This initiative underscores the escalating significance of energy issues on both regional and global stages, emphasizing the necessity for credible, evidence-based information and scientific studies. The restructuring of "Afaaq al-Taqa" aims to cater to this need by focusing on refereed scientific studies and research, with contributions reviewed by a distinguished panel of professors and academic staff from various Egyptian universities. Each edition will feature opinion pieces by energy experts and reviews of key international reports pertinent to the energy sector.
According to State Information Service Egypt, submissions to the journal are subjected to a rigorous double-blind peer-review process, adhering to the principles of neutrality, transparency, and rigor. Each submission is evaluated by an external review committee, appointed by the editor-in-chief, comprising two reviewers with relevant scientific and academic expertise. The review process takes approximately five to six weeks, after which the executive committee decides on the publication status: acceptance without revisions or conditional acceptance pending revisions. Accepted papers undergo thorough editing, linguistic proofreading, and formatting before the final publication.
The IDSC highlighted the journal's relevance in the context of the energy sector's prominence on national and international development agendas. This importance has been accentuated by global crises and disruptions affecting energy markets, underscoring the need for energy security and the provision of essential supplies for various sectors such as industry, agriculture, and transport. Energy has become a cornerstone for economic development, necessitating informed discourse and policy-making.
In its introductory issue, the journal elucidates its mission to enhance the scientific and analytical understanding of energy issues across economic, environmental, technological, and geopolitical dimensions. It aims to illuminate leading international experiences and analyze pertinent national and regional policies, with a special emphasis on Egypt's efforts to advance its energy sector. The journal seeks to address challenges related to supply security, market volatility, and environmental pressures from fossil fuel dependency, advocating for sustainable and balanced policies.
The energy transition emerges as a strategic imperative for states striving to diversify energy sources, expand renewable energy reliance, and boost energy efficiency. These efforts contribute to reducing carbon emissions and aligning with international climate commitments, including the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals. The transition is integral to achieving energy security, enhancing national economic competitiveness, and creating job opportunities in innovative and technology-driven sectors.
The IDSC emphasizes that the journal is designed to support policymakers, researchers, and specialists by providing scientific insights and timely content grounded in systematic analysis and applied studies. This approach seeks to enrich the discourse on energy's future and foster the development of sustainable, resilient policies that align with global shifts towards a lower-carbon, more efficient, and inclusive economy.
The first issue of "Afaaq al-Taqa" features four scientific papers and studies, addressing topics such as the impact of global oil price volatility on Egypt's inflation rate, the energy transition's implications for financial stability and sustainable development goals, geopolitical risks affecting Middle East energy security, and public-private partnerships in green hydrogen project sustainability. Additionally, the journal includes opinion pieces on energy storage challenges, the correlation between oil and gas prices and global events, and the US-Russian gas rivalry's impact on the European market. It also reviews research briefs on the 2025 World Gas Report and declining oil and gas field outputs.