Egypt's Electricity Sector Faces Rising Costs and Theft Crackdown

Dr. Medhat Nafea, coordinator of the macro‑economics committee of the Prime Minister’s advisory council, warned that continuing to subsidise electricity while prices rise will trap consumers in a costly cycle. He said the gap between production costs and retail prices is unsustainable, noting that the current subsidy of about 100 billion Egyptian pounds could double or triple if structural problems such as plant inefficiency, theft, transmission losses and debt mismanagement are not addressed. Nafea called for long‑term economic solutions rather than temporary fixes, emphasizing that honest consumers should not bear the cost of electricity theft.

The Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy outlined citizens' rights during inspections for electricity theft, detailing the legal powers of the electricity police and the procedures for entering homes. It urged cooperation while guaranteeing the right to contest any action. In parallel, the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company, led by Engineer Mona Rizq, signed a contract with a Turkish firm to integrate 2,250 MW of wind‑power capacity from projects in the Gulf of Suez, including the construction of a new 500 kV double‑circuit line to strengthen the national grid.