There is “surplus” in electricity production in Egypt due to periodical maintenance of existing power plants, increasing their efficiency, Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker said in a Monday meeting with President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, according to a presidential statement.

Sisi met Shaker and Minister of Petroleum Sherif Ismail to discuss Egypt’s needs for electricity and natural gas, the statement said.

Sisi emphasized the importance of power plants maintenance to increase their productivity and pointed to the need of “signing new contracts” to build new plants and purchase the fuel needed for their operation.

During the meeting, ways to conserve energy were discussed, such as reducing excess usage, using energy-saving light bulbs and air conditioners, installing pre-paid electricity meters, strengthening measures against electricity theft and collecting debts on overdue utility bills.

Summer 2015 has thus far witnessed the least blackouts in four years, as Egypt’s power crisis had led to rolling power cuts, with attributions to lack of fuel operating power plants.

Source: Cairo Post