Egypt gov says fuel crisis to end 'within days', rationing planned

Officials respond to latest diesel shortages, saying new supplies are on the way and a ration card system will be introduced

Egyptian officials have pledged a swift end to the nation's latest fuel shortages and the introduction of a rationing system to limit future crises.
Over the last two weeks, the nation's motorists have once again been queuing at petrol stations in Cairo and beyond as depots struggle to supply sufficient fuel. It is the fourth serious bout of shortages since the early 2011 uprising.
Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, Zeid Mohamed Abu Zeid, pledged on Thursday that the current crisis would be resolved "within two days".
In remarks published by the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper the following day, Abu Zeid said that additional supplies would be made available and admitted that profiteering had resulted in Egyptians paying over the odds for state-subsidised fuel.Future distribution would be closely monitored, he said.
Other initiatives to combat the persistent shortages have also been announced.
Finance minister Momtaz El-Said told the independent Egyptian newspaper Al-Shorouk on Friday that the government is ready to introduce a ration-card system for both diesel and petrol as soon as they compile an inventory of all vehicle-owners.
"Each person who carries a ration card and owns a car will be able to present proof to the rationing office and get coupons," El-Said added.
El-Said also reiterated his intention to completely phase out subsidies for Octane-95, the most expensive petrol, typically used by luxury cars. Critics have long contended that subididy on the fuel simply benefits the well-off. With the subsidy removed, the fuel will retail at LE4 per litre.