JAKARTA – The Egyptian government has started to tighten energy consumption after energy import costs jumped sharply in the last three months. Shops, restaurants, malls, and a number of public spaces are now required to close earlier. The public and private sectors are also asked to work remotely every Sunday for a month.
As reported by Arab News, quoted Sunday, March 29, the policy was announced by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly amid a surge in global energy prices and regional conflicts that are putting pressure on Egypt’s import costs. The country’s energy import costs have more than doubled, from 1.2 billion US dollars in January to 2.5 billion US dollars in March.
Based on government directives, shopping centers, restaurants, and other commercial businesses must close at 21.00. On weekends and official holidays, operating hours are extended until 22.00.
In its official statement, the Egyptian State Information Service, as written by Arab News, stated, “This decision requires sports clubs, people’s clubs, corporate and factory clubs, youth centers, and community development centers to close every day at 21.00, except on Thursdays, Fridays, holidays, and official commemorations, which are closed at 22.00.”
However, the rule does not apply to grocery stores, supermarkets, bakeries, pharmacies, as well as restaurants and cafes with tourist permits at airports, seaports, and train stations. The agency added, “This decision does not apply to grocery stores, supermarkets, bakeries, pharmacies, or restaurants and cafes with tourist permits at airports, seaports, and train stations. A number of evening activities are also excluded, such as fruit and vegetable stores, poultry stores, and wholesale markets.”
Mostafa Madbouly also requires remote work every Sunday starting April 1 for one month. Factories, water, gas, sanitation services, hospitals, schools, and universities are exempt from this policy.
According to Arab News, the move comes as many countries are starting to curb energy demand amid supply uncertainties through the Strait of Hormuz, an important route for about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas. India, Myanmar, and the Philippines have also adopted similar policies.
To save fuel, the Egyptian government has also temporarily slowed down major projects for two months. Reuters reported that all government agencies were asked to cut their consumption of petroleum products by 30 percent.
Mostafa Madbouly said the government had reviewed the impact of the situation in the region on the economy and taken early steps to ensure the availability of goods and services during the Eid al-Fitr holiday. He stressed that the market remained stable, the supply was sufficient, and the price increase of a number of commodities was beginning to subside.
Separately, the Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, still reported by Arab News, said Egypt is implementing a major plan to strengthen the electricity sector and energy efficiency. According to Mahmoud, the technical losses in some areas had reached 30 to 40 percent, now down to about 18 percent.
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