Written by: Salma El-Saqqa
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi expressed his high appreciation for the efforts of Dr. Mohamed Shaker, the former Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, recalling the major challenges the Egyptian state faced at the start of the plan to save the electricity sector in 2014 to meet the needs of citizens and various economic sectors for electricity supply.
The President's remarks came during a session titled "The Egyptian Energy Journey" as part of the activities of the Egypt 2026 Forum, where he expressed his regret for the absence of Dr. Mohamed Shaker from the current energy session, in a gesture reflecting the extent of appreciation and respect for what the former minister provided throughout his tenure under extremely difficult and challenging circumstances.
Behind the Scenes of the Electricity Crisis and Urgent Action
President El-Sisi recalled the behind-the-scenes handling of the power outage crisis that the country suffered from in 2014, explaining that the state was facing real crises that required exceptional and urgent action to develop electricity generation capabilities and secure the national grid, to prevent the worsening of power outages and their direct negative impacts on citizens' lives, the production cycle, and the national economy.
The President confirmed that the financial cost and efforts exerted to save the electricity sector at that stage were much less than the massive losses that the Egyptian economy could have suffered had the crisis continued without radical solutions, highlighting the importance of the bold decisions taken by the state to overcome difficulties and provide the energy necessary for sustainable development.
A Message of Appreciation and the Future of the Energy Sector
The President directed a sincere message of thanks and appreciation to Dr. Mohamed Shaker, praying to God to grant him health and wellness, for his prominent role in managing the electricity sector during a phase characterized by unprecedented challenges. This tribute comes within the framework of reviewing the developments of the energy sector's path in Egypt and the efforts crystallized over the past years.
The discussion also touched upon the state's current and future plans to expand new and renewable energy projects, and to enhance energy efficiency, in a way that meets the growing needs for economic and social development in the country, and confirms the importance of benefiting from previous experiences and efforts.
