PM Madbouly's Load Shedding Remarks Clarified: Cabinet Denies Extended Cuts

The Cabinet’s Media Center has refuted reports suggesting that Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly indicated electricity load-shedding could extend to six or eight hours daily. In a statement released on Thursday, October 22, 2026, the Media Center clarified that the Prime Minister's remarks were taken out of context and do not represent any official decision to implement such prolonged load-shedding.

Prime Minister Madbouly made these comments during a session titled “Egypt’s Energy Journey: National Achievements and Future Prospects.” The discussion centered on potential strategies for managing escalating energy prices. He presented three possible approaches: transferring the full energy cost increase to consumers, having the state absorb the entire cost increase, or maintaining current budget allocations and purchasing petroleum products at new prices within existing financial resources.

Madbouly explained that the third option would only cover 50–60% of citizens' energy needs. This shortfall, he noted, could compel the government to consider more severe measures, such as implementing electricity load-shedding for durations of six to eight hours per day.