The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawy, and the Minister of Youth and Sports, Jawhar Nabil, conducted a roundtable titled: 'Future Energy Leaders from Youth: Empowering Young Talents to Support the Egyptian Energy Sector'. This event was part of the outcomes from the Egypt International Petroleum Conference 'EGYPS 2026'. The meeting witnessed participation from representatives of the Ministries of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Education, and Technical Education, along with a group of young professionals working in the energy sector.
Minister Badawy emphasized that the roundtable serves as an effective dialogue platform with youth, aiming to formulate actionable initiatives. He noted that the upcoming phase will see the transformation of discussion outcomes into executive steps through regular meetings and the formation of a working group to follow up on priorities and achieve tangible results on the ground.
Event Details
Badawy called for the formation of working teams from among the youth to study the proposed axes, primarily focusing on providing training programs and hands-on experiences within petroleum work sites in the fields of production, exploration, mining, and refining. This step aims to enhance the linkage between scientific research and industrial applications.
For his part, the Minister of Youth and Sports stressed that empowering youth is a priority for the state, affirming that the ministry's strategy is based on developing skills and preparing youth for the labor market. He also highlighted the importance of linking the educational process with youth centers in collaboration with relevant authorities to prepare a generation equipped with knowledge, skills, and leadership capabilities.
Background & Context
In this context, Dr. Ahmed Randi explained that the Ministry of Petroleum implements comprehensive programs to prepare and qualify youth, including leadership development, energy efficiency, and operational safety. The initiatives also encompass social responsibility, such as applied technology schools and the Energy Technology Engineering program, in addition to implementing a modern competency management system in collaboration with the National Training Academy.
Engineer Abeer El-Sharbin highlighted that the 'EGYPS 2026' roundtable resulted in several actionable initiatives, most notably the launch of the career guidance platform 'Ma'ak', personal skills development for new graduates, and the development of specialized postgraduate programs according to the needs of the oil and gas sector, alongside the establishment of a unified platform for training programs.
Impact & Consequences
Dr. Walaa Sheta reviewed the 'One Professor for Each Factory' initiative, which aims to enhance the partnership between academic institutions and workplaces, supporting knowledge transfer, innovation, and operational efficiency within the petroleum sector. The roundtable presented several ideas supporting youth empowerment, including providing opportunities for researchers to apply their research in the field and benefiting from STEM school students in energy projects and emissions reduction.
Additionally, it was proposed to organize sporting events for workers in petroleum and mining sites across various governorates, reflecting the state's interest in enhancing worker health and increasing their productivity levels.
Regional Significance
These efforts come within the framework of the state's direction to enhance investment in human capital, as it is the cornerstone for achieving sustainable development and supporting the competitiveness of the Egyptian energy sector. Empowering youth in this vital sector is a strategic step towards building a more sustainable and innovative future.
In conclusion, this meeting represents an important step towards enhancing the role of youth in the energy sector, contributing to achieving national goals and strengthening Egypt's competitiveness in the regional and international markets.