AUC Graduates First Cohort of Egypt’s Pioneering Oil and Gas Safety Diploma

The American University in Cairo has graduated 32 professionals from the first cohort of Egypt’s first Professional Diploma in Process Safety Management (PSM), marking a major milestone for capacity-building in the country’s oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors.

The graduation ceremony was held on February 11, 2026, at AUC’s New Cairo campus and brought together senior figures from government, industry, and academia. Attendees included Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources; Ahmad Dallal, President of AUC; Rich Sumner, Global CEO of Methanex; and Mohamed Shindy, Managing Director of Methanex Egypt, alongside senior leaders from Egypt’s petroleum sector.

The diploma is the result of a tripartite partnership between AUC, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, and Methanex Egypt. It builds on a foundational agreement signed in 2020 to develop a national roadmap for process safety management. That collaboration has already produced 24 sector-adopted PSM standards and guidelines, which form the core of the diploma’s curriculum.

Launched in May 2025, the program was designed by AUC’s Engineering and Science Services and the Department of Petroleum and Energy Engineering, in partnership with Methanex Egypt. It aims to equip technical professionals with the expertise needed to manage operational risks, prevent major industrial incidents, and strengthen safety culture across Egypt’s energy value chain.

AUC President Ahmad Dallal said the graduation of the first cohort represents a significant achievement in aligning academic rigor with real operational needs. He stressed that strong process safety systems protect lives, assets, and the environment, while also enhancing efficiency, reliability, and long-term competitiveness in the energy sector.

Minister Karim Badawi emphasized that investing in human capital and embedding process safety standards are central to the Ministry’s strategy for advancing the petroleum sector. He described the diploma as a successful model of cooperation between government, academia, and global industry, reinforcing occupational safety and sustainable production.

For his part, Mohamed Shindy said the program marks an important milestone in Methanex Egypt’s long-standing partnership with AUC and the Ministry, adding that the company remains committed to sponsoring future cohorts as part of its broader investment in sector-wide capability building.

The graduation is widely seen as a step forward in strengthening Egypt’s institutional capacity in process safety management, supporting the resilience and sustainability of its oil and gas industry.