Habi_ Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister , clarified the facts regarding the circulating statements attributed to him concerning power load shedding for durations ranging between 6 and 8 hours daily. This came at the conclusion of his intervention, in which he reviewed the prominent features of the National Economic Transformation Program during one of the sessions of the Egypt 2026 Forum.
Madbouly affirmed that what he presented during a previous session regarding the challenges and future of the energy sector came within the context of reviewing the available scenarios to deal with the repercussions of globally rising energy prices, and did not include any announcement of implementing such a measure.
The Prime Minister stated that the forum represents an opportunity to clarify facts for citizens and enhance awareness regarding what is being circulated across social media platforms, in light of what President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi emphasized regarding the importance of providing the opportunity to discuss various issues and clarify their dimensions to public opinion.
Madbouly explained that during his participation in a previous session addressing the challenges and future of the energy sector, he pointed out that the entire world is facing major challenges in this field in light of current economic and international developments, which affect developed and developing nations alike.
The Budget Estimated the Price of a Barrel of Oil at $75, While the Price Has Exceeded $110
He added that the state's general budget for the current fiscal year was built upon an estimated price of $75 per barrel of oil, ensuring the provision of the state's needs of fuel and gas necessary to operate the energy system, whereas the price of a barrel has currently exceeded the $110 level, which imposes additional challenges on the general budget.
The Prime Minister indicated that he reviewed during the session three potential scenarios to deal with the increase in energy prices; the first of which consists of making the citizen bear the full increase through raising prices, a measure resorted to by numerous countries, while the second scenario is based on the state bearing the cost difference for a specific period until the trajectory of global developments becomes clear, a matter that may lead to an increase in public debt and expose the government to criticism from experts regarding high borrowing rates.
As for the third scenario, it consists of adhering to the financial allocations specified in the general budget while purchasing smaller quantities of petroleum products, which may reach 50% or 60% of total requirements.
Madbouly expressed his astonishment at the circulation of inaccurate news across certain social media platforms, following the presentation of these scenarios, alleging that he announced power outages ranging between 6 and 8 hours daily, alongside halving fuel quantities to cope with the crisis. He affirmed that his remarks were strictly limited to clarifying the alternatives proposed to deal with the increase in energy prices within a framework of transparency and frankness, without announcing the implementation of this scenario.
The Prime Minister stressed that the state has chosen, at the current stage, to bear the financial burden resulting from rising prices to avoid imposing additional burdens on citizens. He explained that this decision was made by the economic ministerial group, stemming from a policy whereby the state bears a portion of the crisis's repercussions rather than transferring its cost to the citizen.
Circulating Inaccurate Statements About Electricity Aims to Undermine State Efforts
Madbouly affirmed that this incident demonstrates, in his words, how awareness is falsified and how attempts are made to question every step taken by the state to deal with the crisis under current global conditions. He added that what is happening represents part of the wars targeting the demolition of states from within, which President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi warns against and seeks to make citizens aware of through the forum, calling on everyone to remain vigilant and protect the state from attempts to demolish it.
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