28 December, 18:37
(ANSAmed) – ROME, DECEMBER 28 – Over 15 power stations have not produced energy since yesterday due to a lack of fuel (diesel, natural gas and mazut), according to the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC).
For the first time ever, the electricity distributor announced, ”the drastic decrease in available fuel has reduced productive capacity by about 3,000 megawatts per day”.
According to sources quoted by Al Ahram Online, if the situation is not resolved soon, ”over half of Egypt’s governorates might be left with no electricity whatsoever”.
As a result of the halt to energy production in the plants, yesterday the governorates of Suez, Baharia, Alexandria and Cairo suffered a blackout lasting several hours.
In the attempt to meet electricity demand and deal with the lack of fuel, in October the Egyptian government signed an agreement to import gas from Algeria and started talks for the same with Qatar.
In August the authorities announced that two power plants would be built in Damietta and Abukir with an overall capacity of 1,800 megawatts when fully operational. (ANSAmed).