July… Karim Badawi’s Anniversary Between History and Achievement

Who could have imagined that twelve years have passed since one of the most pivotal moments in our nation’s modern history? It was July 3, 2013, the day Egyptians turned the page on one of the darkest chapters of their time — the end of the Muslim Brotherhood’s rule, the fall of sectarianism and division, and the collective stand of a nation against the brink of a civil war that only God knows where it might have led.

Back in 2011, when we revolted against the regime of President Mubarak, we didn’t realize that this spark of revolution was part of a larger, more complex plot to divide the country into factions and warring sects. We stood on the edge of a sectarian abyss — and it was only the vigilance of the people, the army, and the institutions that pulled Egypt back from the brink.

Strangely — or perhaps by divine design — that very date, July 3, returned eleven years later as a moment of major governmental change. In 2024, a highly anticipated cabinet reshuffle took place, most notably affecting the Ministries of Petroleum and Electricity. It’s as if this date is destined to mark turning points in Egypt’s modern path.

⸻

On that day, July 3, 2024, Eng. Karim Badawi was appointed Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources — a surprise of great magnitude. His name had never circulated in political forecasts or media speculations. His sudden appearance in the new cabinet came as a shock — a calculated gamble by decision-makers.

A man from global economic and technical institutions, Badawi had never been part of the administrative machinery of Egypt’s oil sector. Yet he arrived at a critical moment, burdened with a heavy national task. The sector was suffering from a production collapse, and the country was witnessing widespread public anger due to power outages and shut-down power stations caused by gas shortages. The need for change had become a pressing national necessity.

⸻

Once in office, the new minister found himself amid turbulent waves: frustrated employees, a massive financial burden to import crude and petroleum products, disillusioned international partners, a lack of operational efficiency, and a sector crippled by years of administrative and technical stagnation.

He wasted no time drawing clear lines for his strategy. He began to clean the table, executing key organizational changes, quietly removing remnants of the former minister’s inner circle — all with calm determination and deliberate steps.

More importantly, he directly engaged with the workforce, speaking their language with humility and openness. He earned their trust through listening, presence, and persistence. Not a day passed in his first year without a meeting with a foreign partner or investor. He traveled extensively — in a manner unprecedented for any former Minister of Petroleum. He visited oil fields in work clothes, a symbolic gesture that he belonged to the technical and practical school, not the cold corridors of bureaucracy.

⸻

Still, despite his efforts, the truth remains sobering: the sector’s problems are deeper than any single field, well, or station.
Zohr — once considered the linchpin — turned out to be only a piece of a much more complex puzzle. The real issues lie in operational methodology, economic models, financing structures, and a long history of neglected reform.

The minister knows there is no magic wand. Decades of structural issues cannot be reversed in a matter of months. Yet, the past year was not without positive signals, especially in the drafting of the new Mineral Resources Law, reshaping concession maps, and redefining the ministry’s relationship with foreign investors.

However, occupational safety remains a critical concern. Accidents continue to occur — the latest just two days ago — reinforcing the fact that neglect, irresponsibility, and unprofessional conduct still plague important operational zones.
Changing a culture is often harder than changing leadership or regulations.

⸻

On this national and ministerial anniversary, we say:

“Happy anniversary to the great people of Egypt.
Long live the petroleum sector, and best wishes to its minister,
who has now become a proud member of Egypt’s petroleum family.”

Mr. Minister,
You’ve earned the honor of joining a house we all take pride in. With that comes great responsibility. We call upon you to act with fairness in your appointments, to ensure justice for the retired as well as the active workforce, and to serve the interests of all sector members.

The nation expects much from you — and the opportunity is still ahead.
You can either become one of the architects of a true renaissance, or merely a witness to another chapter.

#FuturePetroleum