Presidential candidate Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s campaign will start distributing 300,000 electricity saving lightbulbs to Egyptians on Saturday, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported.

Former military leader El-Sisi said in his first ever TV interview two weeks ago that his electoral plan to save electricity includes encouraging citizens to use electricity-saving lightbulbs.

Head of the youth committee in El-Sisi’s campaign, Tarek El-Kholy, said the campaign will start distributing the bulbs in Cairo and eight other governorates.

El-Kholy, in a statement to Al-Ahram, said the move is a first practical step towards rationalisation of electricity.

The retired defence chief’s campaign will also be distributing flyers on ways to save electricity.

Due to increased demand for power and a system strained by lack of fuel and capacity, Egypt has been experiencing increasingly frequent power cuts, expected to worsen in summer.

Egypt's presidential elections will take place on 26-27 May. Egyptian expats have already starting casting their ballots at Egyptian embassies and consulates abroad. The overseas voting period will close on 18 May.

Voters are choosing between El-Sisi, the favourite, and leftist Hamdeen Sabahi.