Egyptian TV host Amr Adib announced during his show, El Hekaya, that nationwide power cuts will be extended from one to two hours. This comes after multiple complaints from the public about prolonged power cuts of over an hour, despite lower temperatures.
A statement from the Egyptian Cabinet spokesperson, Sameh El-Kheshen, explained that the lengthened power cuts began yesterday due to a noticeable increase in temperatures as compared to last year. This has led to a rise in electricity demand. The statement also highlighted that the decrease in electricity from renewable sources has impacted the power cuts.
However, the statement did not specify the exact duration of the power cuts. The spokesperson added, “The increase in electricity consumption coincides with a decrease in natural gas imports from 800 million cubic feet of gas per day to zero.”
In July, Egypt’s Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, explained that the country’s natural gas supply system, which powers the power plants, has been strained by the rise in demand for electricity. Power cuts were implemented to ease the pressure on the country’s electricity infrastructure during the summer, which saw heatwaves and soaring temperatures.
