Two ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) and Muslim Brotherhood (MB) MPs have filed quest for notification to the Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, Minister of Petroleum Sameh Fahmi, Minister of Social Solidarity Ali Moselhi and Minister of Local Development Abdel Salam Mahgoub about the shortage of butane gas cylinders nationwide. MB MP Hisham al-Qadi said the problem has aggravated nationwide and butane gas cylinders have disappeared from stores and markets. The prices of gas cylinders skyrocketed in the black market, he said, accusing the Ration Control Authority of failure. He wondered about the actions taken by the government to eliminate the crisis. In another quest for notification, NDP MP Gamal al-Zeni has accused the government of exporting natural gas while the Egyptian provinces suffer a real crisis.
In Alexandria, Undersecretary of Western Alexandria Local Council Sallam Mohammed said the butane gas cylinders in markets do not meet the standards. This leads to many fire accidents. Mohammed's statements are groundless, as butane gas cylinders markets are good, Magdi Hassaballah, an official with Petrogas Co said. For his part, CEO of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation Abdel Alim Taha said the plan of the consumption of butane from last July till January instant has been achieved by 115%. The current consumption rates reached about 1.3 million cylinders a day, up 5% compared to last January. The ministry plans to supply homes with natural gas during the coming years, as natural gas is the best alternative to the liquidated oil products, especially butane gas, Taha added.
