File Photo: A man walks with a flashlight along a darkened street during a power cut in the Fleming neighbourhood of Alexandria, Egypt. AFP
Authorities have implemented extended nationwide power cuts this week in light of scorching heatwave and people’ high local consumption of electricity, driving public uproar.
The government said the increased power consumption has put pressure on the natural gas supply needed for power generation.
The additional hour of power cuts was explained as necessary to maintain the operational efficiency of the national electricity transmission and natural gas networks.
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has ordered the government to take immediate action and implement necessary measures to reduce power outages and ensure their fair distribution.
A high-level source said the president also ordered the government to focus on addressing the crisis in full with the aim of ending it as soon as possible.
A ministerial meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, commenced on Tuesday with the aim of issuing crucial decisions to tackle the ongoing power crisis in Egypt, according to media reports.
A government source told Extra News that the meeting focuses on taking measures to alleviate the extended load-shedding program, which has caused inconvenience to citizens.
Gloomy conditions
The extended power cuts have left people across Egypt working and living in darkness and without fans or air conditioners for several hours amid soaring temperatures.
During this month, temperatures reached up to 40 degrees Celsius in Cairo and 45 degrees in South Sinai and Upper Egypt.
The outages have also put further burdens on Thanaweya Amma (national high school system) students, who are currently studying for their decisive Thanaweya Amma exams, which started in June and extends until 20 July.
Initially, the government announced a one-hour extension of power cuts on Sunday and Monday.
However, they later apologized and informed citizens that the cuts would continue until the end of the week, raising concerns about the severity of the energy crisis in the country.
Under the new measures, power cuts are scheduled for three hours, starting from 2 PM and lasting until 9 PM. However, reports indicate that many areas have experienced outages lasting up to 3-5 hours per day since the recent decision took effect on Sunday.
The load-shedding program has been in place since the summer of 2023, as power stations face increased pressure due to a drop in gas pressure caused by high local consumption during hot months, according to the government.
In May, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi stated that the load-shedding program aims to spare citizens from bearing the actual cost of electricity, which he said is double or triple the current cost.
In addition to the power shedding program, the government has raised electricity prices multiple times over the past decade, with the latest increase ranging from 16 to 26 percent between January and June 30, 2024.
Halt in factory operations
As a result of the scorching heat and natural gas shortage, several companies have announced temporary halts in their factory operations.
Abuqir Fertilizers Company recently announced on Tuesday the closure of three of its factories due to the heatwave and increased natural gas consumption, as reported by local media.
The company said its decision coincides with a halt in some regional natural gas supply sources.
In early June, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced a reduction in natural gas supply to fertilizer companies to redirect it to power plants.
Shortly after that, the ministry announced a gradual return of supplies to these companies.
The extended power cuts, coupled with soaring temperatures across the country, have sparked outrage on social media, with people demanding stable electricity service as a fundamental right.
In May, Madbouly directed the ministers of electricity and petroleum to develop a plan to eliminate the load-shedding power cuts by the end of the year.
Last April, Cabinet Spokesman Mohamed El-Homsany stated that the load-shedding program saves the country nearly $1 billion annually, which can be allocated to purchasing essential commodities.
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