A South Cairo Electricity Distribution Company power station by the Nile near Shoubra El Kheima neighbourhood in Cairo, Egypt, in May 2024. Reuters
A South Cairo Electricity Distribution Company power station by the Nile near Shoubra El Kheima neighbourhood in Cairo, Egypt, in May 2024. Reuters
A South Cairo Electricity Distribution Company power station by the Nile near Shoubra El Kheima neighbourhood in Cairo, Egypt, in May 2024. Reuters
A South Cairo Electricity Distribution Company power station by the Nile near Shoubra El Kheima neighbourhood in Cairo, Egypt, in May 2024. Reuters

Egypt raises electricity prices as energy sector reforms continue


Kamal Tabikha
  • English
  • Arabic

Egypt has increased electricity prices for residential and business customers by up to 50 per cent, a senior source at Egypt's Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy told The National on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy did not announce the decision. It is part of a plan to gradually remove subsidies by December 2025, a requirement under Egypt's agreement with the International Monetary Fund.

The new pricing scheme, which was issued on Sunday, according to a source at the state-owned South Cairo Electricity Distribution Company, ranges between 14 per cent and 50 per cent. It went into effect for homes and businesses with prepay meters on Monday and will be added to September bills for postpay users.

For residential consumers, the price increase ranges from 14 to 50 per cent, while the rise in the commercial sector ranges from 24 per cent to 47 per cent.

Thousands of prepay users have complained about the price rise to the ministry, according to an official at the state-owned North Cairo Electricity Distribution Company.

Second increase

This month’s increase is the second this year, following one in January when prices went up by between 16 per cent and 20 per cent.

The price adjustments are part of Egypt's energy sector reforms intended to reduce fiscal burdens and attract private investment, as outlined in the country's agreement with the IMF, which will provide the government with $8 billion in financing until the end of 2026.

“Restoring energy prices to their cost recovery levels, including retail fuel prices by December 2025, is essential to supporting the smooth provision of energy to the population and reducing imbalances in the sector,” the fund wrote in its third review of Egypt’s loan programme, published on July 29.

Daily power cuts, introduced in August of last year by the government to cut energy consumption, have continued throughout this summer also.

The rise in energy prices also follows a partial cut for sugar subsidies, implemented on Monday and announced by Egypt’s Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade.

The government also raised fuel prices, including diesel prices, by 15 per cent on July 25, the second time this year. During a televised speech announcing the fuel price increases, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the government plans to “break even” on fuel prices by December 2025.

In April, the IMF estimated that Egypt will spend 331 billion Egyptian pounds ($6.78 billion) on fuel subsidies in 2024-2025 and 245 billion Egyptian pounds ($5.02 billion) in 2025-2026.

The Egyptian government has repeatedly said that subsidies cannot continue at the rate they are at because of the high rate of population growth in Egypt.

However, high inflation and a drop in the value of the local currency have significantly reduced the population's purchasing power at the same time that subsidies are being cut, leading to a wave of dissatisfaction with the government’s reforms.

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
  • George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Director: S Shankar

Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films

Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
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Most fours: 491 – Gautam Gambhir

Highest individual score: 175 not out – Chris Gayle (for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in 2013)

Highest strike-rate: 177.29 – Andre Russell

Highest strike-rate in an innings: 422.22 – Chris Morris (for Delhi Daredevils against Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017)

Highest average: 52.16 – Vijay Shankar

Most centuries: 6 – Chris Gayle

Most fifties: 36 – Gautam Gambhir

Fastest hundred (balls faced): 30 – Chris Gayle (for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in 2013)

Fastest fifty (balls faced): 14 – Lokesh Rahul (for Kings XI Punjab against Delhi Daredevils in 2018)

 

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

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Price: From Dh117,059

The biog

Marital status: Separated with two young daughters

Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo

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Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness

Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon

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Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
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  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Power: 268bhp / 536bhp
Torque: 343Nm / 686Nm
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On sale: Later this year
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Updated: August 20, 2024, 9:26 PM