Increased amounts of diesel and gasoline allocated to Alexandria and the North Coast this summer are causing fuel shortages in other governorates, according to Hossam Arafat, head of the fuel department at the Federation of the Egyptian Chambers of Commerce.
During a meeting two days ago, Arafat accused the government of ignoring the private sector in its decision-making process, despite the fact that it is responsible for 95 percent of the processes involving the circulation and distribution of natural gas, gasoline and diesel.
Arafat added that the Ministry of Social Solidarity is examining the possibility of distributing natural gas using coupons, although, according to him, there are 30 reasons why such a system should not be implemented. He added that in addition it would not be possible to implement such a system before the start of the new fiscal year.
In Alexandria, the Supply and Internal Trade Department has set up a chamber of operations to follow up on the fuel crisis. The chamber will handle any complaints about fuel shortages.
Mohamed Bedeiwi, general manager of internal trade, said Alexandria’s daily quota of gasoline has been raised to 4251 tons a day, and its daily quota of diesel to 9290 tons a day.
In Damietta, Hosni Abdel Aziz, Deputy Minister of Social Solidarity for Supply Affairs, said the internal trade department has filed five police reports against gas station owners who have sold fuel at prices higher than the official ones.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
