Egypt explores the potential of ports to become future hubs for alternative marine fuels
With its strategic location along the Suez Canal and at the crossroads of major global trade routes, Egypt is well positioned to play a leading role in supplying the alternative marine fuels that will power the next generation of ships. As international shipping transitions towards low- and zero-emission fuels, Egypt is exploring how its ports can support future fuel production, storage, bunkering and associated services.
To help identify opportunities and infrastructure needs, a team of experts recently completed field visits to five of the country’s leading ports: Ain Sokhna, Alexandria, Damietta, Dekheila, and East Port Said.
The visits were organized by Egypt’s Maritime Transport & Logistics Sector (MTLS) with support from IMO’s GreenVoyage2050 Programme and brought together experts in alternative fuels, green ports and supply and demand analysis. During the visits, the team reviewed existing facilities and expansion plans, met with port authorities, terminal operators, fuel producers and suppliers, and discussed the operational, safety, infrastructure and regulatory steps needed to support future alternative fuel supply and bunkering activities.
Rehab Abou ElFadl of MTLS, said:
‘The transition to alternative marine fuels presents a significant opportunity for Egypt’s ports and maritime sector. By understanding the strengths and development needs of each port, we can better position Egypt to attract investment, create new economic opportunities and strengthen our competitiveness as a maritime and logistics hub.’
The mission forms part of Egypt’s ongoing work to develop a National Action Plan (NAP) for maritime decarbonization. Building on a national stakeholder workshop held in Alexandria in 2025, the findings will inform port readiness assessments and Egypt’s Alternative Fuel Roadmap, helping identify the investments, policies and partnerships needed to support the country’s maritime energy transition.
Eng. Refaat Armanios, IMO Regional Coordinator for the Arab States and Mediterranean said:
‘No single stakeholder can deliver the maritime energy transition alone. The strong engagement seen throughout this mission highlights Egypt’s commitment to working across government, industry and the port sector to build the partnerships needed to support future marine fuel supply chains. The IMO is proud to support this journey through our GreenVoyage2050 Programme.’
Together, the National Action Plan and Alternative Fuel Roadmap will provide Egypt with a framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships and ports, attract investment, and strengthen the competitiveness of Egyptian ports at the regional and international levels.
About GreenVoyage2050 Programme
GreenVoyage2050 is a major technical cooperation programme of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), supporting developing countries in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping in line with the IMO GHG Strategy. Now in its second phase (2024–2030), the programme helps partnering countries develop national policies, action plans and pilot projects, and build the partnerships needed for a just and effective transition to low- and zero-carbon shipping. Learn more at https://greenvoyage2050.imo.org
