ORIGINAL PAPER
Before implementing carbon taxes in developing countries: Egypt as a case study
1
Alexandria National Refining and Petrochemicals Co. (ANRPC), Egypt
2
Alexandria Higher Institute of Engineering and Technology (AIET), Egypt
Submission date: 2023-02-12
Final revision date: 2023-05-06
Acceptance date: 2023-05-23
Publication date: 2023-09-19
Corresponding author
Tarek Ibrahim EL-Shennawy
Alexandria National Refining and Petrochemicals Co. (ANRPC), 23111, Alexandria, Egypt
Alexandria National Refining and Petrochemicals Co. (ANRPC), 23111, Alexandria, Egypt
Polityka Energetyczna – Energy Policy Journal 2023;26(3):81-100
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
Energy policyEcological, economic, social and legal aspects in energy systemsRegional issues of fuels and energy
ABSTRACT
Carbon taxing is an efficient instrument that is implemented by several countries to reduce CO2 emissions. Taxed products and services that result in emitting CO2 in their processes will be replaced by more sustainable alternatives. Carbon taxing is associated with concerns about high energy prices that can negatively affect households and businesses. Egypt, one of the low middle-income developing countries, depends on fossil fuels to supply more than 93% of its total energy supply. In this paper, an analysis is carried out to assess the effects of a suggested carbon tax on the major carbon emitting sectors; power generation, transport and industry. The results show that the power generation sector can absorb and benefit from a suggested tax at a rate of USD 5 per ton of emitted CO2. The transport sector, which relies heavily on subsidized liquid fuels, needs an urgent reform program to remove these subsidies, which costs the country about 10 billion USD annually, and after that, the carbon tax can be introduced. The industry sector may be affected negatively by the suggested tax, due to competitiveness with non-taxed imported products. On the other hand, this tax can help this sector to be prepared to compete when exporting its products to foreign markets that apply carbon taxes. In conclusion, developing countries like Egypt need a well-planned carbon tax program that can make revenues, remove subsidies, and prepare local industries for fair competitiveness in the global market.
METADATA IN OTHER LANGUAGES:
Polish
Przed wdrożeniem podatku węglowego w krajach rozwijających się: Egipt jako studium przypadku
podatek węglowy, kraje rozwijające się, emisje CO2, Egipt
Opodatkowanie emisji dwutlenku węgla jest skutecznym instrumentem wdrażanym przez kilka krajów w celu ograniczenia emisji CO2. Opodatkowane produkty i usługi, które prowadzą do emisji CO2 w swoich działaniach, zostaną zastąpione bardziej zrównoważonymi alternatywami. Opodatkowanie emisji dwutlenku węgla wiąże się z obawami o wysokie ceny energii, które mogą mieć negatywny wpływ na gospodarstwa domowe i przedsiębiorstwa. Egipt, jeden z krajów rozwijających się o niskim średnim dochodzie, jest uzależniony od paliw kopalnych, które dostarczają ponad 93% całkowitej energii. W niniejszym artykule przeprowadzono analizę mającą na celu ocenę wpływu proponowanego podatku węglowego na główne sektory emitujące dwutlenek węgla: energetykę, transport i przemysł. Sektor transportu, który w dużej mierze opiera się na subsydiowanych paliwach płynnych, wymaga pilnego programu reform w celu usunięcia tych dotacji, co kosztuje kraj około 10 mld USD rocznie, a następnie można wprowadzić podatek węglowy. Sugerowany podatek może mieć negatywny wpływ na sektor przemysłowy ze względu na konkurencyjność w stosunku do nieopodatkowanych produktów importowanych. Z drugiej strony, podatek ten może pomóc temu sektorowi przygotować się do konkurowania przy eksporcie swoich produktów na rynki zagraniczne, które stosują podatki węglowe. Podsumowując, kraje rozwijające się, takie jak Egipt, potrzebują dobrze zaplanowanego programu podatku węglowego, który może generować przychody, usuwać subsydia i przygotowywać lokalne branże do uczciwej konkurencyjności na rynku globalnym.
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