Egypt's Natural Gas Prices Soon to Go Up

In a stressful series of prices hikes due to the Egyptian economic reform programme, natural gas prices are the most recent to see an increase. Egypt’s Cabinet has raised the prices of natural gas on Saturday for household and commercial use by up to 75%.

For consumption of less than 30 cubic metres, prices went up from EGP 1.00 to EGP 1.75; consumption between 30-60 cubic metres went up from EGP 1.75 to EGP 2.50; consumption of more than 60 cubic metres went from EGP 2.25 to EGP 3.00.

The hike in prices will be put into effect in August, according to the official gazette, Al-Waqai Al-Misriyya. The decision to hike natural gas prices follows the recent hike in cigarette prices, electricity, drinking water, and diesel.

As the austerity measures steepen, President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi asks for Egyptians to be patient, promising that efforts will soon turn into results within two years.

The austerity measures were implemented following the $12 billion loan granted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2016.

Main image taken from Foreign Affairs.