{"id":47574,"date":"2022-11-15T12:49:54","date_gmt":"2022-11-15T12:49:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatechangenews.com\/?p=47574"},"modified":"2023-04-24T05:05:40","modified_gmt":"2023-04-24T04:05:40","slug":"complete-contradiction-cop27-host-egypt-dirty-fuels-sell-more-gas-to-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.climatechangenews.com\/2022\/11\/15\/complete-contradiction-cop27-host-egypt-dirty-fuels-sell-more-gas-to-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Complete contradiction\u2019: Egypt burns dirtier fuel to sell more gas to Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cop27 host Egypt is increasing its use of mazut \u2014 a polluting heavy fuel oil\u2014 in 20 power plants, to free up gas for export to Europe.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In June, the country signed a<\/span> deal<\/span><\/a> with the European Union and Israel to boost LNG sales to Europe, as part of the continent\u2019s dash for gas to replace Russian energy imports.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Egyptian government announced it would ration gas use and replace it with other fuels at home. At a<\/span>\u00a0press conference<\/span><\/a> in August, prime minister Moustafa Madbouly said Egypt expected to export 15% of its gas production. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The main alternative fuel is mazut, a blend of heavy hydrocarbons that contains toxins like sulfides and heavy metals. It can be broken down to produce diesel.<\/span><\/p>\n

A whistleblower from the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy told Climate Home News mazut was previously being phased out due to its harmful health impacts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Oil and gas trade show\u2019<\/strong> promotes carbon capture at Cop27<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Official data issued by the Egyptian Electricity and Consumer Protection Regulatory Agency shows the trend. In October 2022, the percentage of mazut consumption in power plants reached 20.95%, while the same month in 2021 it was 3.67%.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe use of mazut currently in stations instead of natural gas is in complete contradiction with the climate conference,\u201d said the whistleblower, speaking on condition of anonymity. “How do we talk about the climate and reducing pollution, and the percentage of diesel use increases every day?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Plant closures<\/h3>\n

On Friday at Cop27 climate talks, Germany and the US announced support<\/a> for Egypt to close 12 “inefficient” gas plants with an installed capacity of 5GW. That will not automatically end the use of mazut, as Egypt has 28MW of installed capacity designed to run on mazut or gas.<\/p>\n

Asked about the fuel switch, Cop27 envoy Wael Aboulmagd told Climate Home: “In our [national climate plan] we have made commitments that we intend to move forward on in all aspects, adaptation but also on reduction of emissions…<\/p>\n

“As a developing country, we have the prerogative to continue to grow and for our emissions to continue to increase, but cognizant of the emergency.”<\/p>\n