Egypt returns to LNG import scheme to resolve power generation crisis

Over the past several years, power cuts have become a standard feature of Egyptian summers. This year, nation-wide blackouts started in mid-March, indicating the country may be heading towards one of the most difficult peak demand seasons ever. Interim prime minister Ibrahim Mahlab has demanded that Egyptian Electricity Holding Company accelerate the completion of an additional 2,400MW of generation capacity, to bring it on stream by June instead of August. The government has also returned to plans that it rejected last year to commission a temporary floating regasification unit to allow it to import liquefied natural gas (LNG).