With the arrival of summer temperatures, Egypt finds itself facing a delicate situation in terms of fuel supplies, leading to shortages and an increase in power cuts. Hafez Salmawy, former head of the Public Electricity Services Regulatory Authority, stressed during a recent interview on Ahmed Moussa’s “On My Responsibility” show that electricity consumption is reaching record levels. exceeding 35,000 megawatts in July.
He highlighted the challenge facing the country, explaining that generating electricity is not a problem with existing plants, but it requires additional quantities of fuel. To alleviate this situation, measures were taken including the ordering of 18 shipments of natural gas to resolve the operational problems of the plants, representing a significant financial cost of 1.5 billion dollars or 60-80 billion Egyptian pounds.
Faced with this crisis, Hafez Salmawy spoke of the importance of taking an example from Japan’s experience in reducing electricity consumption following an incident at a nuclear power plant. This approach allowed Japan to save around 18% of its consumption, a percentage higher than Egypt’s current needs. He also mentioned the existence of smart electrical appliances that consume much less electricity than traditional appliances, offering an effective solution to reduce energy demand.
In response to power outages, Hafez Salmawy recommended disconnecting fuses from the central electrical panel and reactivating them sequentially to avoid damage to these sensitive devices due to excessive voltage variations.
Faced with these energy challenges, it is essential to take proactive measures to ensure a stable supply of electricity while encouraging more efficient and rational use of energy. Raising awareness of the importance of energy conservation and adopting more energy efficient technologies are key elements in ensuring a transition to a sustainable energy future.
In conclusion, the current crisis highlights the need to rethink the way we consume energy and adopt more sustainable practices to preserve our resources and guarantee a reliable supply of electricity for all.