Electricity curbs dominates the conversation on the airwaves
The Madbouly government’s plan to cut back on electricity consumption was all the talking heads could jabber about last night, with Ala Mas’ouleety (watch, runtime: 39:43), Salet El Tahrir (watch, runtime: 3:19), Masaa DMC (watch, runtime: 11:24), Al Hayah Al Youm (watch, runtime: 5:18 | 3:40) all discussing the move. We have more details on this story in this morning’s Economy section, above.
Electricity Ministry spokesperson Ayman Hamza made the rounds to reassure the public that the decision was not driven by an electricity shortage but by a need to maximize returns on our natural gas resources and bring in more FX during a global crisis that has put pressure on our economy, he told Al Hayah Al Youm and Masaa DMC.
ALSO ON THE AIRWAVES-
Social security: The extra support for ration card holders will come into effect on 1 September, Supply Minister Ali El Moselhy said on the sidelines of a press conference yesterday, in statements aired by Ala Mas’ouleety (watch, runtime: 4:13). Each one-family ration card will see an EGP 100 increase in credit for the purchase of food staples for the coming six months, while two-family cards will see a EGP 200 increase and four-family cards will see a EGP 300 increase, costing the state EGP 5.5 bn.
Illegal construction: Building violation regs were still getting airtime last night, with Al Hayah Al Youm (watch, runtime: 8:04) speaking with Rep. Ahmed El Seginy about the amendments to the law for reconciling building violations.