(DNE File Photo / Hassan Ibrahim)
The butane cylinder crisis has been resolved following the arrival of new butane gas shipments last week, according Undersecretary of Giza Supply Directorate Hefzy Sadek.
The Ministry of Petroleum announced that 48,000 tonnes of butane gas have been imported from 11 to 15 November to increase the available amounts of cooking gas to meet the needs of the domestic market, according to a ministry statement.
Egypt produces around 6,000 tonnes of butane gas daily from refineries, according to the ministry’s figures.
Giza receives 7,000 to 9,000 gas cylinders daily in addition to its normal share to meet demand, Sadek said, supplied by “Butagasco”, a company affiliated to the ministry.
The ministry said that tightening the control over warehouses has helped ease the crisis, adding that the trend would continue amid rising quantities of cooking gas cylinders.
According to the ministry, shipments of 22,500 tonnes of butane gas arrived last Monday in the ports of Suez and Alexandria, in addition to a shipment of 6,500 tonnes which arrived on Wednesday. A shipment of 10,500 tonnes also arrived on Thursday.
Egypt had witnessed a nationwide shortage in cooking gas cylinders earlier in November, which the Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Mohamed Abu Shady attributed to a delay in shipments of butane gas due to inclement weather.
Abu Shady announced on 3 November that large amounts of gas cylinders would be distributed to depots nationwide in coordination with the Ministry of Petroleum.
Giza governorate’s share of cooking gas cylinders has been raised to 2.2 million per month, Sadek said, representing an increase of 225,000.
The cabinet pledged on 11 November to resolve the shortage swiftly by boosting quantities and controlling smuggling operations, according to state-run news agency MENA.
