Production and consumption
Since 2005, primary energy production in Egypt was usually higher than consumption. Indeed, Egypt produced 4.17 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) of primary energy in 2021, which was slightly higher than the primary energy consumed the same year, which amounted to 3.81 quadrillion Btu. Between 2005 and 2016, energy production in the country followed an inverted U-shape. However, since 2017, power generation has been on the rise again. In contrast, energy consumption increased, peaking in 2018 and dropping in 2020 before rising again. Fossil fuels are the main energy source in the country. Natural gas was followed by petroleum products, which accounted for around 95 percent of the total energy produced. This can be linked to it being the most abundant energy source in the nation. Moreover, a minor share of energy consumption was via coal, although it was not present in energy production.Renewable energy is the future
Globally, more countries are trying to shift to renewable sources of energy, the same applies to states in the Middle East and North Africa region. In fact, Egypt ranks second in the region behind Saudi Arabia, with a projection that by 2035 the capacity would be roughly 54 gigawatts with a target of 42 percent of the energy capacity being through sustainable energy sources. Lately, renewable energy capacity in the North African country is on the rise, peaking in 2022 at approximately 6,322 megawatts. The prime contributor is hydropower energy, with roughly 44.8 percent of sustainable energy capacity, which can be connected to the Nile passing through the country. Solar and wind energy followed with close to 27.3 percent and 26 percent of the total capacity, respectively.
