Egypt's ministers of electricity and renewable energy and petroleum witnessed the signing of a cooperation protocol to transform petroleum-sector waste into value-added resources. The agreement, signed at the Electricity Ministry's headquarters in the New Capital, forms part of a state strategy to enhance coordination and efficient resource management. It focuses on safely handling technically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material from petroleum activities.
In a move to boost environmental sustainability and economic value, Egypt's Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, witnessed the signing of a cooperation protocol on Sunday between the Nuclear Materials Authority and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC).
The protocol was signed by Hamed Meira, Chair of the Nuclear Materials Authority, on behalf of the Electricity Ministry, and Salah El-Din Abdelkarim, EGPC's CEO, representing the Petroleum Ministry. It addresses the treatment of technically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TE-NORM) from petroleum activities, including sediments, produced water, sludge, and other by-products.
The Nuclear Materials Authority will handle environmental surveys and assessments of sites, develop safe treatment and disposal plans, apply best-available technologies, and issue regular progress reports. EGPC will identify waste locations, types, and quantities, prepare technical reports, provide samples for analysis, and offer logistical support for fieldwork.
Esmat emphasized ongoing efforts to enhance the value of Egypt's natural resources and accelerate their optimal use per presidential directives, stressing the need for technical capabilities, licensing, monitoring, and safety standards, along with joint committees for oversight. Badawi described the protocol as a strong model of integration between the petroleum and electricity sectors, noting that the sector's expanding activities must align with environmental protection. He highlighted the ministry's strategy prioritizing safety, emissions reduction, and sustainable management, where proper waste treatment turns liabilities into economic opportunities.