CAIRO, Egypt – June 24, 2024 – Egyptians face longer electricity outages as the government extends daily power cuts to three hours in response to a scorching heatwave. This increase, implemented on Sunday and Monday, comes on top of the existing two-hour daily blackouts that have plagued the country since July 2023.
The cabinet attributed the extended cuts to a surge in domestic electricity consumption due to soaring temperatures. Egyptians heavily rely on air conditioners during the summer months, placing a significant strain on the national grid.
These blackouts are not a new phenomenon. For over a year, the country has grappled with load shedding – a deliberate strategy of planned outages to manage electricity demand. This strategy stems from a confluence of factors, including declining natural gas production, rising electricity demand from a growing population, and a shortage of foreign currency needed to import necessary fuels.
The impact of these outages has been widespread. Homes and businesses alike have endured disruptions, and tragically, several deaths have been linked to the blackouts. One such case involved a saxophonist who perished after being trapped in an elevator during a power cut in Alexandria.
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