Egypt

Egypt is one of Africa’s main oil and gas producers, but it is also the continent’s largest consumer of energy. Both oil and gas are found throughout the country in multiple onshore and offshore regions, including the Mediterranean Sea, which is emerging as a major new gas basin. Nevertheless, sourcing enough supply to meet demand is the...

Egypt’s power sector is racing to cope with demand, which is growing at the relatively high rate of about 6% per year. The rate is attributed to a fast-growing population and a subsidy regime that suppresses the price of electricity below a cost-reflective level that would normally encourage conservation. The state has a long-term plan to...

Egypt’s ambition to generate 20% of electricity by renewable sources is facing some challenges. The country is rich in solar and wind resources, but Egypt is still navigating hurdles in search of the ideal legal regime to encourage investment whilst also protecting the state’s balance sheet from risky commitments. Although there was some...

Egypt’s downstream energy markets are tightly regulated in terms of the prices consumers pay for the commodities and the scope of private sector participation. Still, the state has long promised a loosening of controls and increased opportunities for investment. A major step toward that type of deregulation is now under way, due to the...

The Egyptian insurance industry, one of the oldest in the region, has shown a welcome degree of resilience in recent years. Despite its long history, however, the market remains at a relatively nascent stage of growth compared to those in advanced economies, characterised by a low penetration rate and modest insurance density. While this means...