By continuing to rely on coal, Egypt is missing a golden opportunity to export renewable energy

Egypt is missing out on a golden opportunity to become an exporter of renewable energy due to our insistence on using coal despite clear signs this is the wrong choice, Ragia El Gerzawy writes in a column for Al Masry Al Youm. Using coal for energy production simply does not make sense for Egypt: We produce none of the stuff, and the health and environmental repercussions of its use are disastrous. Egypt naturally has access to large amounts of sunlight and wind that should be taken advantage of, particularly as studies indicate that renewable energy will be less costly than other energy sources in the future. El Gerzawy points to India, which is turning its back on coal as an energy source — despite being the world’s third biggest coal producer — in favor of solar energy as it works to produce enough electricity to cover its citizens’ needs.