The cabinet has decided to no longer implement daylight savings time (DST) after massive controversy arose on whether or not to continue using it, state–run Al-Ahram reported on Monday.
The cabinet will suspend the current system that shifts the clocks forwards one hour, according to a statement issued on Monday.
DST was scheduled to be applied starting 7 July, according to a statement by the cabinet.
The decision was issued following a presidential decree in April 2015, which stipulated the suspension of DST in future years, after a poll conducted by the government showed that the majority of Egyptians did not support the clocks being put forwards an hour in summer.
The switch to DST was introduced in several countries following the oil shock of 1973 in order to save energy by reducing lighting needs in the late afternoon.
However, EgyptAir could lose up to $2m if parliament votes to cancel daylight saving time, according to media statements issued recently from the EgyptAir chairperson.
DST was first applied in 1998 then abolished in April 2011 after the 25 January Revolution that ousted former president Hosni Mubarak.
The system temporarily returned in May 2014 in order to ease consumption after the country witnessed rolling blackouts.
