The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Methanex Egypt and the Engineering and Science Services of the American University in Cairo Announce the launch of the Initial[...]

Cairo, September 15, 2025 - The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Methanex Egypt, and the Engineering and Science Services (ESS) of the American University in Cairo (AUC) proudly announce the launch of the initial round of Egypt's first Process Safety Management (PSM) Professional Diploma.

The first cohort includes 32 professionals from various oil, gas, and petrochemical companies across the sector. Over four months, participants will join the program through in-person and online sessions covering key areas such as the fundamentals of process safety, hazard identification and risk assessment, process safety leadership, safety in design and engineering, emergency response and incident investigation, as well as regulatory compliance and auditing. These topics form the core competencies needed for industry professionals to manage risks and drive stronger safety outcomes.

This curriculum was developed by the Ministry of Petroleum, Methanex Egypt, and the AUC building on the 24 PSM standards and guidelines previously developed by the Ministry and Methanex and issued by the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation in 2022. Awarded by AUC's ESS, the diploma is supported by Methanex Egypt's sponsorship of 150 Ministry candidates over three years.

Commenting on the launch of the first round, Eng. Yassin Mohamed, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources First Undersecretary and Supervisor: "Launching the first round of Egypt's Process Safety Management Diploma represents a major step forward in our strategic vision to institutionalize process safety and enhance operational excellence across the sector. Through this collaboration with Methanex Egypt and AUC, we are building a knowledge-based workforce capable of embedding safety into every aspect of our operations."

Reflecting on the launch of the first round of the diploma, Mohamed Shindy, Methanex Egypt Managing Director, said: "The launch of the first round of Egypt's Process Safety Management Diploma marks a significant step in transforming our technical collaboration with the Ministry into structured sector-wide capacity building. This milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to advancing process safety in the industry and equipping professionals across the sector with the knowledge required to sustain safe operations."

Dr. Lotfi Gaafar, Dean of the School of Science and Engineering at the AUC, commented: "We are proud to launch the AUC-Methanex Process Safety Management Diploma, a collaborative effort with Methanex and the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources aimed at advancing professional expertise in process safety. This partnership underscores our shared commitment to enhancing Egypt's Oil & Gas sector through cutting-edge training that promotes safety, operational excellence, and sustainable growth."

This diploma is the result of years of collaboration between the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and Methanex Egypt to embed PSM into the country's oil, gas, and petrochemical sector, progressing from raising awareness, to establishing national PSM standards, and now to building professional capability for a safer future. Since 2018, this partnership has delivered tangible milestones including the development of 24 national PSM standards and guidelines, the launch of Egypt's first official PSM website (https://www.psmegypt.com), the publication of the "Towards Safer Processes in the Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Industries" book, and the organization of multiple sector-wide PSM conference and knowledge sharing sessions. Together, these initiatives have laid the groundwork for stronger safety culture and practices, positively impacting the industry and supporting a safer energy future for Egypt.

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Methanex Egypt:

The Egyptian Methanex Methanol Company S.A.E. is the Egyptian joint venture operation of Methanex Corporation, a Vancouver-based, publicly traded company and the world's largest producer and supplier of methanol to major international markets. Methanex holds a 50% interest in the joint venture, together with the Egyptian government partners: Egyptian Petrochemical Holding Company (ECHEM), which holds 12%; Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), which holds 12%; Egyptian National Gas Company (GASCO), which holds 9% and the Arab Energy Fund, which holds 17%.

Methanex Egypt's state-of-the-art methanol production facility is located in Damietta, Egypt on the Mediterranean Sea and is among the most energy efficient methanol plants in the world. The plant has a production capacity of up to 1.3 million tonnes of methanol per year, supplying both the local and global markets.

Methanex Egypt has been a key driver in advancing Process Safety Management (PSM) across Egypt's oil, gas, and petrochemical sector. In collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the company has led several initiatives to institutionalize PSM and enhance industry-wide capabilities.

• Joint development of 24 national PSM standards and guidelines: https://psmegypt.com/psm-standards-guidelines/
• Launch of Egypt's first official PSM website: https://psmegypt.com/
• Publication of the "Towards Safer Processes in the Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Industries" book summarizing all 24 documents: https://psmegypt.com/psm-book/
• Hosting a series of knowledge-sharing sessions to build awareness and technical competence: https://psmegypt.com/rollout-sessions/
• Organization of the annual PSM Conference to foster industry-wide dialogue: https://psmegypt.com/conferences/

About the Engineering and Science Services (ESS) of the American University in Cairo:

Established in 1983, Engineering and Science Services (ESS) has been dedicated to serving and developing engineering and science-related industrial communities. ESS offers a wide variety of services designed to meet the current and future needs of the engineering and scientific community.

With more than 40 years of experience, ESS has earned a reputation as one of the biggest and leading providers of training and consultation services for practitioners in the Engineering and scientific field across Egypt and the Middle East. Capitalizing on its diverse programs and services, thousands of public and private sector organizations have become regular recipients, including the banking sector, real-estate developers, petroleum, construction, and steel industries.

In a fast-developing world, ESS proudly supports individuals and businesses to achieve professional growth through its paradigm-shifting professional development service. ESS delivers a transformational professional education opportunity, training, and consultation services delivered through a team of highly qualified instructors from academia and industry- equipped with the latest educational tools, laboratories, and computer facilities.