Egypt signs deal with Belgium’s DEME to produce green hydrogen

Egypt signed on Thursday a cooperation agreement with Belgian dredging company DEME Group to start producing green hydrogen.

Gaber Desouky, chairman of the state-run Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC), signed the agreement with Alain Bernard, chairman of DEME.

The signing ceremony was attended by Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Petroleum Tarek el-Molla, Belgium Ambassador to Cairo François Cornet d’Elzius, and Egyptian Navy Commander-in-Chief Ahmed Khaled.

Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly said the agreement lies under the state’s strategy that aims to expand in the areas of clean and green energy, and increase the share of renewable energy in the electric energy mix.

DEME has chosen Egypt to launch the green hydrogen project given its distinguished location and its enjoyment of renewable energy sources, especially solar and wind energy, in addition to the availability of qualified onshore and marine infrastructure and skilled manpower, chairman Alain Bernard said.

Green hydrogen is a zero-carbon fuel made by electrolysis by using renewable power from wind and solar to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.