Power plant fuel consumption rates increased to 115m cubic metres of gas and equivalent daily, compared to approximately 107m last month, according to an official at gas holding company EGAS.
The deficit of fuel supplied to power plants this week decreased to 6m cubic metres of gas and equivalent as compared to 10m last week. The actual needs of power stations are currently estimated at 121m cubic metres of gas and equivalent daily.
Power plants receive 82m cubic metres of gas daily and 29,000 tonnes of fuel oil, the official said, a significant rise on the month before. In June 2014, 75m metres of gas and 24,000 tonnes of fuel oil were obtained.
The Ministry of Electricity reached an agreement with EGAS increasing gas supplies to plants to a maximum of approximately 80m cubic metres daily during the month of Ramadan. This signifies an increase of 5m cubic metres to reduce power outages, the official said.
Power plants have, however, consumed above the agreed amounts, causing gas supplies to some factories to be reduced or stopped altogether.
The official emphasised that EGAS will not supply quantities beyond the agreed upon amount as this represents 70% of Egypt’s total gas production at this time. Gas will be supplied through intense reductions at the expense of the industrial sector, he added.
Egypt’s total gas production is 134m cubic metres per day, with average power station consumption during Ramadan not dipping below 119 metres of gas and equivalent. The figure is likely to increase as temperatures rise.
