A source at an Egyptian natural gas company stated to Egypt Oil&Gas that Egyptian Holding Gas firms plan to pump natural gas to 300,000 households by April 2017. This plan will start by delivering natural gas to a number of underdeveloped areas. The companies’ plans aim to decrease butane importing bills and save US dollars to be used in importing basic goods.

The source added that the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources is working on delivering natural gas to more households in Egyptian govern orates, especially underdeveloped areas located in Cairo, Giza and Upper Egypt. The ministry’s plan aims to deliver natural gas to 750,000 households within 2017, thus it will be parallel with the government’s general plan to pump gas to a total 2.6m households during 2017.

The source explained that upon executing the gas pumping plans Egypt will save EGP 3b per month from the butane subsiding budget that is estimated at a total EGP 16b. Furthermore, the plan will help solve continual butane shortages in Egypt during the winter months and reduce the burden on supply warehouses.