Egypt Govt Backs Off Gas Cylinder Price Rise In Week: Sources

The Egyptian cabinet vows to revoke the ministerial decree No. 1256/2013 within a week as regard to put up the prices for the subsidized butane gas cylinders to EGP 8, official sources from the Ministry of Supply and Interior Trade (MSIT) asserted on Wednesday.

On Monday, the government set new prices for butane gas cylinders, with the price of 12.5kg cylinders rising to EGP 8 per cylinder and the price of 25kg rising to EGP 16, a rise of 60% for both sizes of cylinder.

The sources referred that the Egyptian government has asked the Ministry of Supply so as to intervene with the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC) so as to assure the owners of the warehouses who are against the subsidized gas cylinder price rise and back to work until the Cabinet cancels the decree.

Meanwhile, Ahmed El-Wakeel the Federation president refused to comment on the possibility of revoking the decree, stressing that there are ongoing talks with the Egyptian presidency and government officials seeking to reach a compromise over the controversial decree.

On Tuesday, members of the Young Graduates of the Gas Cylinders Distribution Project (YGGCDP) gathered outside the Ministry of Supply to protest the rise in the price of subsidized butane gas cylinders, set to reach EGP 8 per cylinder.

Protesters travelled from the warehouses where they work across the nation, including Port Said, Al-Zohor, Manshiet Nasser and Giza. The demonstration started at 9am in front of MSIT headquarters in Kasr El-Ainy Street.

Leave a comment