In response to the sweltering heatwave engulfing the country, Egypt has announced a series of measures, including planned power cuts, to manage the escalating energy consumption. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Madbouly addressed the nation on 6th August, urging both the public and private sectors to take similar steps to alleviate pressure on the electricity grids.
To mitigate the rising energy demand, the government has implemented planned power cuts, which are anticipated to last one to two hours a day at most. The measures are expected to continue until the end of the ongoing heatwave, where temperatures have soared to over 45 degrees Celsius in certain regions.
In addition to the power cuts, civil servants who do not have jobs requiring public contact will be permitted to work from home one day a week for a month to further ease the strain on the electricity grids.
The power cuts have generated discontent among the population, especially as they occur during the hottest parts of the day and occasionally last for more than two hours, happening only once a week. This has led to complaints on social media platforms.
Egypt’s economy has been facing numerous challenges, such as soaring inflation and currency depreciation, impacting purchasing power and the ability to import essential goods. The country’s foreign exchange reserves have also been depleted, and a growing debt burden has been exacerbated by external events, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
To address the energy crisis and bolster the country’s electricity production, Egypt agreed with Germany’s Siemens in 2015 to construct three major power plants. The project aimed to attract investments of approximately six billion euros, to double the country’s electricity generation capacity.
Navigating through these challenges, Egypt is striving to manage the energy situation and maintain stability amidst the intensifying heatwave and the corresponding surge in energy demand.
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