Amid reports that the cabinet will meet Tuesday to discuss shortages of fuel and butane gas cylinders, a woman died Monday and eight others were wounded in clashes between citizens queuing for cylinders in Qalyubia Governorate.
Similar clashes were reported in Minya, Beni Suef and Daqahlia Governorates, where police seized 250 liters of gas and diesel before they were sold on the black market.
The Petroleum Ministry said the crisis has been almost completely resolved in most governorates, after the market was supplied with extra quantities of fuel in the last five days.
“We have supplied the market with 17,000 tons of gas and 39 million tons of diesel, which is 30 percent more than the usual,” said Petroleum Minister Abdullah Ghorab. “Reports coming in say there is no problem now.”
“The cost of those extra quantities should have been allocated for health and education,” Ghorab said.
A source at the Supply Ministry said the new system for distributing butane gas cylinders, whereby more than three members of the same household are eligible to receive subsidized cylinders, will go into effect after 31 March.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
