Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced on Tuesday that the country will need to import approximately $1.18 billion worth of fuel oil and natural gas to alleviate the ongoing power outages worsened by successive heat waves. He stated that these shipments are expected to arrive in full in the third week of July, with the government aiming to cease cutting electricity during the remaining summer months.
The prime minister also revealed that Egypt has secured a contract for 300,000 tons of diesel valued at $180 million to bolster its strategic reserves. This move comes as a response to high electricity consumption in homes during the recent heat wave, which led to longer daily power outage periods of three hours instead of the usual two hours. Madbouly confirmed that these outage periods will continue until the end of June before returning to two hours in the first half of July, with the goal of eliminating them entirely for the rest of the summer.
The need for imports and strategic reserves highlights the importance of managing resources efficiently to ensure a stable energy supply for Egypt’s population. The government’s proactive measures also emphasize the impact of climate conditions, such as heat waves, on energy infrastructure and consumption patterns. With this announcement, Egypt is taking steps towards mitigating these challenges and providing a more reliable electricity supply for its citizens during the summer months.
