With support from IMO‘s GreenVoyage2050 program, Egypt has formulated a National Action Plan (NAP) to address greenhouse gas emissions from ships and ports.
National Action Plan workshop
A workshop in Alexandria was co-organized by the Egyptian Maritime Transport & Logistics Sector in collaboration with the IMO. It gathered stakeholders from across Egypt’s maritime and energy sectors and facilitated dialogs among the various stakeholders, focusing on shaping a shared vision, identifying priority actions, exploring financing opportunities and strengthening capacity-building efforts for Egypt’s maritime decarbonization journey.
Representatives from the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy were joined by key stakeholders from the Suez Canal Authority, Suez Canal Economic Zone, regional governorates, shipping companies, ports, fuel suppliers and training institutions.
The GreenVoyage2050 team shared expertise on NAP development and showcased case studies from partner countries, offering valuable insights for Egypt’s roadmap. Breakout sessions on shipping, ports and energy highlighted sector-specific challenges and opportunities, with cross-cutting discussions on finance, regulation and capacity building.
The workshop concluded with a commitment to continue inter-agency cooperation and stakeholder engagement in the formulation of the NAP. A draft framework is expected to be shared for consultation later this year.
Opening the workshop, Rear Admiral Sherif Zakaria, deputy head of Maritime Transport & Logistics Sector, said, “This workshop marks a new phase of collaboration to drive maritime decarbonization in Egypt, focusing on practical steps toward a cleaner and more sustainable shipping sector.”
Subaskar Sitsabeshan, program officer at IMO’s GreenVoyage2050 program, stated, “Egypt’s leadership in green shipping, anchored by the Suez Canal, has the power to shape sustainable trade routes far beyond its borders. This transition is a strategic economic opportunity that can attract investment, build capacity and strengthen the resilience of Egypt’s maritime sector.”
GreenVoyage2050 program
GreenVoyage2050 is a major technical cooperation program initiated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to assist developing countries in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping, in line with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.
Now in its second phase (2024–2030), GreenVoyage2050 is supporting partner countries in developing National Action Plans (NAPs) – including Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mexico and Nigeria – as well as implementing pilot projects in Turkey, India, Indonesia and Vietnam to test solutions for reducing GHG emissions from ships.
Leveraging funding from the governments of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway, the GreenVoyage2050 program continues to expand, with new countries added each year. The next open call for countries to join GreenVoyage2050 will be announced by the third quarter of 2025.
In related news, Mike Kane, the UK maritime minister, recently announced £30m (US$40m) funding to decarbonize shipping and power up the local economies of the UK’s coastal communities, during his visit to Clydeport in Glasgow. Read the full story here