Head of the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) Khaled Abdel Badei said there is no governmental decision to increase the prices of natural gas supplied to factories in July, stressing that the prices are fixed and the Cabinet does not plan to increase them.
Abdel Badei told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the rumours about the price hike are false, and were aimed at causing confusion.
The government has increased the prices of natural gas prices for the largest consumers among factories last July to US$7 per 1 million BTUs, from $4, while the price for medium consumers ranged between $4 and $5 per 1 million BTUs.
The Minister of Petroleum said in previous statements that there would be no increase in gasoline and diesel prices, with the start of the new fiscal year.
Abdel Badei also denounced the rumors about the alleged shortage of gas, saying that the officially registered 2,450 factories have received gas supplies coveing an average 80 percent of their needs.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
