President El-Sisi and Cypriot counterpart inaugurate EGYPES 2026, witness natural gas framework signing

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi participated in the opening of the ninth Egypt International Energy Conference and Exhibition EGYPES 2026 from March 30 to April 1. The event, held at Al-Manara International Conference Center and the Egypt International Exhibition Center, saw high-level international participation, including Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Eng. Karim Badawi. President El-Sisi welcomed President Christodoulides and other attendees, highlighting EGYPES as a global platform for energy dialogue. He acknowledged global challenges, including the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, and praised Egypt's cooperation with major energy companies, particularly over the past five years despite difficulties like the COVID-19 pandemic and regional conflicts. He stressed that halting energy activities requires years for production to normalize and announced Egypt's intention to settle outstanding dues to relevant companies by June 2026. El-Sisi also reiterated appreciation for Cyprus's cooperation in energy and other strategic sectors, and the partnership between Egypt and the European Union, mentioning efforts to integrate Cypriot production fields with Egyptian liquefaction plants. He emphasized the urgency of resolving the Middle East crisis, which the International Energy Agency described as highly impactful on the energy sector, causing supply shortages and price increases. He warn