Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Egypt has increased allocations of natural gas to avoid massive power blackouts over the next few weeks.

The Petroleum Ministry said it supplied 77 million cubic meters of gas
to power stations over the last few weeks.

The supply, a three percent
increase, was meant to maintain electricity service during the presidential
elections, which ended on May 27 with the landslide victory of Abdul Fatah
Sisi.

Petroleum Minister Sheriff Ismail said his office also oversaw the supply
of 26,000 tons of mazot and 1,000 tons of diesel during the three days of
elections. Ismail said the ministry would provide any power station with
fuel.

Officials have raised the prospect of massive power outages over the
next three months. They said Egypt has obtained commitments from several
Gulf Cooperation Council states for gas and other fuel to ease any expected shortage.

  diesel, Egypt scrambled to avoid blackouts before presidential election, mazot, Sheriff Ismail, summer months