{"id":548112,"date":"2022-07-26T04:00:47","date_gmt":"2022-07-26T04:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/goinggreens\/new-details-on-egypts-updated-emissions-targets\/"},"modified":"2022-07-26T04:00:47","modified_gmt":"2022-07-26T04:00:47","slug":"new-details-on-egypts-updated-emissions-targets","status":"publish","type":"goinggreen","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/goinggreens\/new-details-on-egypts-updated-emissions-targets\/","title":{"rendered":"New details on Egypt\u2019s updated emissions targets"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a> We have the details of Egypt\u2019s updated emissions targets for 2030:<\/strong> Earlier this month, Egypt submitted its updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs) committing to new emissions targets by 2030, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said<\/a> at a climate dialogue in Germany. The new NDCs \u2014 an update to our first-ever report, submitted back in 2015 \u2014 comes ahead of us hosting COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh in November, which Egypt hopes will lead to turning climate pledges into tangible measures and actions towards crucial climate financing for developing countries.<\/p>\n

Energy, oil + gas, transport in focus:<\/strong> These targets include fresh commitments to reduce emissions in the energy and transport sectors \u2014 two of the most polluting industries in Egypt \u2014 and will also look to scale back emissions from transport, Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad said at a presser last week, according to a statement<\/a>. We break down the new targets \u2014 and how we plan to reach these goals by 2030 \u2014 as outlined in the government\u2019s updated NDC report (pdf)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

More ambitious renewables goals to slash energy emissions:<\/strong> The government wants to slash emissions from the energy sector to 33% of the business as usual (BAU) scenario \u2014 i.e. what emissions would be without any mitigation plans \u2014 by 2030 by ramping up its renewable energy targets, the report shows. Officials had previously set<\/a> an (already ambitious) goal of having renewables account for 20% of our power generation by 2022 and 42% by 2035, but Egypt is now looking to have renewable energy account for 40% of our energy mix by 2030 and will keep its 2035 target unchanged.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s repeat that BAU bit for those of you at the back of the class: <\/strong>This isn\u2019t about cutting current emissions by 33% \u2014 the target is to make emissions 33% of what they would be without mitigation.<\/p>\n

How we plan to get there: <\/strong>The plan is to accelerate \u201cthe scale-up of on-grid renewable energy by reducing coal capacity in the generation mix,\u201d including expanding residential renewables generation with more rooftop PV panels and encouraging the use of LED lighting. The government is also looking to expand regional interconnection projects and shift to a smart grid<\/a> using new tech such as smart metering, the report says, without providing specific targets. A shift to smart grids \u201cwill contribute significantly to improve electricity efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and reduce the investment required for infrastructure for electrical networks.\u201d Outdated power plants will also be either taken offline or maintained and upgraded to improve their efficiency. Upping efficiency of the country\u2019s transmission and distribution networks, including extra-high voltage substations and control centers, are also in the plan.<\/p>\n

The oil and gas industry is also up for an efficiency overhaul:<\/strong> The updated NDCs target cutting emissions from the oil and gas industry to 65% of what it would be in the BAU scenario. The target is to reduce emissions from the oil and gas industry to 1,682 Gigagrams (Gg) of CO2 equivalent by the end of the decade by increasing gas recovery at oil fields and raising energy efficiency.<\/p>\n

How we\u2019re going to do it:<\/strong> Egypt primarily wants to focus on making use of the recovery of associated gases generated from crude oil fields, the report says, with the program including 17 implemented projects and 36 others planned until 2030. \u201cInstead of flaring, the associated gases will instead be directed to gas processing facilities to produce liquified petroleum gas (LPG), natural gas, and condensates,\u201d according to the report. The plans also include implementing \u201clow-investment energy efficiency measures in petroleum companies\u201d designed to cut 5% of the sector\u2019s energy consumption. The report also says the government plans to conduct energy efficiency audits on a petrochemical plant and two upstream oil and gas facilities, without naming any of the three facilities.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re also doubling down on green fuels + waste-to-energy:<\/strong> Under the strategy, Egypt will extract 350k tons of algae oil annually for use in the production of biofuels and generate 100k tons of bioethanol annually, the report shows. The government also has a planned product to convert plastic waste to oil as an intermediary product to produce 30k tons of polyethylene.<\/p>\n

Transport emissions are up for the biggest reduction relative to the BAU trajectory:<\/strong> The government\u2019s plan will see Egypt\u2019s transport sector emissions fall to 7% of what they would be in the BAU scenario by 2030. \u201cRoad transport is by far the largest [greenhouse gases] contributor in the transport sector in Egypt,\u201d which means the strategy will focus on encouraging a \u201clow carbon modal shift\u201d towards mass transit options, the report notes.<\/p>\n

How we\u2019re going to get there:<\/strong> Changes to the transport sector\u2019s emissions rely on three main prongs: Developing mass transit services, improving road infrastructure for better fuel efficiency, and bringing greener fuel to mass transport modes. The report takes note of mass transport development projects<\/a>, including expanding the Cairo Metro network, the rehabilitation of the Alexandria Raml Tram<\/a>, the USD 4.5 bn monorail lines<\/a>, and the 103.3 km light rail train project<\/a>. The government is also working to upgrade road infrastructure to \u201cimprove interconnections between cities and decrease commuting time and fuel consumption for road vehicles,\u201d the report notes. Finally, the government is working to switch passenger buses to run on \u201ccleaner fuels\u201d and will introduce a 2% biofuel quota to airplanes\u2019 energy consumption, the report says, without providing further details.<\/p>\n

The manufacturing industry isn\u2019t going unnoticed, either:<\/strong> A decarbonized industrial sector is also in the government\u2019s plan, although the report does not include specific emissions reductions targets. The plan includes improving energy efficiency across all industries, with an eye to cut average thermal energy consumption in iron and steel, fertilizers, and ceramic tiles industries (which are energy-intensive) by 10%, the report says. Fertilizers, for example, will see a transition to low-carbon nitrogen fertilizer production by replacing feedstock with green hydrogen and green ammonia. The government has signed some USD 14 bn worth<\/a> of preliminary agreements for green hydro and green ammonia projects over the past several months.<\/p>\n

Cement is a major component of the decarbonized industry target<\/strong>, with the government looking to enforce a low carbon roadmap that will improve energy efficiency, introduce a partial shift to alternative fuels, and lowering clinker content in cement by as much as 80%. The main pollutant in cement is the production of clinker, which releases CO2. Construction material manufacturing \u2014 including cement, red brick, paint, and steel \u2014 are major contributors to pollution, as we\u2019ve noted previously<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Also in the plan: <\/strong>The government\u2019s strategy touches on adopting low carbon targets in other sectors, including:<\/p>\n