Egyptian factories will no longer face an energy crisis starting November, allowing halted plants to resume operations, reported the state-owned MENA news agency Wednesday, quoting investment minister Ashraf Salman.
Salman said fuel shortages have negatively impacted gas intensive factories such as cement, steel and fertilizers.
Egypt has seen an energy crisis since 2008 on the back of growing fuel consumption and a gap between demand and supply. The crunch usually worsens every year during summer, as more domestic households use air conditioners, adding to cascading power grid pressures.
The minister’s announcement comes as summer ends and Egypt prepares to receive 55 LNG (liquefied natural gas) cargoes.
This summer saw the allocation of most of Egypt’s energy resources to homes at the expense of factories, to avoid fuelling unrest as seen under previous goverments, including that of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.
Source: Ahram Online
