STORY: Egypt reduces power loads amid heatwave: cabinet
DATELINE: July 20, 2023
LENGTH: 00:00:55
LOCATION: Cairo
CATEGORY: SOCIETY
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of electric facilities
 
STORYLINE:
 
Egypt has started power load reduction temporarily because of the excessive pressure on the country's grid during the ongoing heatwave, the Egyptian cabinet announced in a statement on Wednesday.
 
In the statement, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the government started reducing electrical loads on Monday "because of the severe heatwave and the consequent large increase in the consumption of electrical energy."
 
He explained that the increasing power consumption nationwide led to high consumption of the gas used in power generation, causing further pressure on the power networks.
 
"We are currently in a period of temporary load reduction until normal pressures on the network are restored," said the prime minister, noting the measures will continue in rotation until the middle of next week.
 
Power cuts have been seen in several areas in Egypt's capital Cairo over the past couple of days.
 
Further rotational power outages are expected to continue for the coming few days as indicated in the government statement.
 
Egypt hasn't faced a power shortage for years since it reached natural gas self-sufficiency and expanded the construction of power plants nationwide.
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Cairo.
(XHTV)