Egypt Activates Gas Distribution Plan to Prevent Summer Power Cuts

Amid ongoing escalations in the region, Egypt has activated its pre-prepared emergency plan for managing natural gas distribution priorities. The move aims to safeguard the stability of the national electricity and gas networks.

According to an official statement by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the plan involves temporarily halting gas supplies to certain industrial activities. In parallel, power stations are now operating at maximum capacity on fuel oil (mazut), with coordinated efforts to run some stations on diesel, in a bid to avoid power cuts through the summer and ensure consistent supply.

Three liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification vessels have arrived in Egypt, one of which has already started injecting gas into the national grid. Preparations are underway to connect the other two vessels to port infrastructure to begin pumping operations in the coming days.

The ministry confirmed that the central operations room of the national gas network is monitoring the situation around the clock and that the grid remains secure. Current fuel oil reserves are reported to be sufficient to meet consumption needs.

In a related development, the Ministers of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and Electricity and Renewable Energy jointly visited the National Gas Control Centre to oversee the implementation of the emergency plan. The Minister of Petroleum also inspected Ain Sokhna Port to expedite the connection of the third regasification vessel to the network.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly convened a meeting with both ministers to review the latest updates and ensure the plan is progressing efficiently.