Egypt Oil & Gas learned that Tarek El Molla, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, held an extended meeting with heads of fuel distribution companies in Egypt to put together an advanced strategy for distributing petroleum derivatives for the coming period and to eliminate outlying problems facing this key sector. The meeting comes as part of the government’s efforts to fight fuel smuggling in Egypt.

The minister called on the company heads to prepare a plan and a comprehensive study to implement the ATC project, whereby electronic meters are installed at fuel depots, and on storage tanks at fuel stations. All of which will be connected to the regional headquarters of each distribution company, as well as to the EGPC. This is to keep track of the distribution of petroleum products and to be updated on a second by second basis on the availability of fuel in every fuel port in the country, ensuring that subsidized fuel products reach citizens.

He added that this project will be implemented in phases, beginning with Greater Cairo and Alexandria, before the same measures are taken for the rest of the country. Additionally, fuel trucks will be monitored by GPS trackers, whether owned by said companies or rented. EL Molla also insisted that opening a new fuel station be conditional on installing ATCs and GPSs.