Electricity Load-Shedding in Egypt: A Returning Reality?

The Egyptian government’s deadline for plans to reduce electrical load is set to end, sparking concerns about the potential return of load shedding. According to a statement by Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli, the decision to stop power load shedding was temporarily suspended from the third week of July and will continue until mid-September. However, the question remains: are we on track to reduce electricity load again?

Electricity Load-Shedding: A Returning Reality

Despite the lack of an official statement from the Egyptian government or the Ministry of Electricity and Petroleum, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has taken steps to secure power network requirements and prevent a return to load shedding. The ministry has contracted for new shipments of liquefied gas, increasing the number of shipments from 21 to 32.

Hamdi Abdel Aziz, the ministry’s official spokesman, explained that imported liquefied gas is converted into natural gas and pumped into the national electricity grid through special facilities. This process ensures electricity stability and reduces the likelihood of load shedding.

The Reality of Power Load Shedding: A Possibility, but Not Confirmed

Abdel Aziz stated that the possibility of load shedding returning in the near future cannot be confirmed or denied. The decision mainly depends on technical standards related to gas and diesel supplies. However, he assured the public that Egypt is not currently suffering from a shortage of these supplies needed for electricity generation.

Securing Future Projects and Energy Needs

The Ministry of Petroleum is discussing a project with the State of Cyprus to establish a pipeline to transport gas to the Port Said liquefaction plant. This project will increase Egypt’s capacity to import and export gas, positively impacting the electricity network and reducing the load.