In Egypt, a natural gas shortage has led to rolling blackouts during a heatwave, prompting churches, cafes, and libraries to assist students preparing for their high-school exams. Venues equipped with power generators, including sports centers and wedding halls, have welcomed students affected by the extended daily power cuts, now officially lasting three hours. Egypt primarily relies on natural gas for electricity generation. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced on Tuesday that Egypt needs to import $1.18 billion worth of mazut fuel oil and natural gas to mitigate the power cuts worsened by heatwaves increasing electricity demand. Decreased domestic gas production and unstable imports have also impacted the power supply. The government plans to halt power cuts by the third week of July. Over 745,000 students are expected to take these exams, crucial for university admission. Hundreds of students, seeking relief from the heat, queued outside the air-conditioned Bibliotheca Alexandrina, which extended its free access hours for its 2,000-seat reading hall. High school student Hassan Yazi appreciated the library's services and calm atmosphere. Khaled Saeed, the library's head of security, noted the unexpected turnout. In Alexandria, the Coptic Church of Saint George's priest, Yacoub Barsoum, mentioned using their generator to power halls for students, providing internet access and refreshments. In Cairo, physician Noura Saeed, whose daughter is a high school student, temporarily relocated to her sister's gated community with consistent power after an eight-hour outage. She and other parents are adjusting by hosting study groups based on power-cut schedules.
Text: Lara Palmer
27.06.2024
Churches, cafes, and libraries open doors to help students study during heatwave-induced blackouts