A shortage of 80 octane petrol led to fighting on Tuesday at petrol stations in Assiut that left two people injured. Traffic slowed down on highways and main streets in several cities as vehicles waited in 100-meter-long lines. The drivers accused petrol and diesel oil distribution companies of intentionally creating a crisis given the lack of sufficient scrutiny by officials. An official source from the Assiut Chamber of Commerce said one of the most important causes of the crisis is the lack of monitoring by the supply department. In Minya, where the shortage of petrol has continued for a month and a half, supply inspectors continued their crackdown on black market traders. The price of one liter of 80 octane petrol is sold for LE2.5, even though its official price has been set at 0.9 piastres. Ezzat Hamza, deputy minister of supply in Minya, said there are three tons of strategic reserves of 80 octane petrol and 4575 liters of diesel oil. He added that campaigns will continue to curb the sale of petrol on the black market. Owners of petrol stations in Cairo and Giza staged a protest Sunday in front of the Egypt Petroleum Company to demand their fuel needs be met. The state news agency MENA quoted a gas station owner as saying that gas station owners have met with Yehia Shanan, the chairman of the company, who promised to resolve the crisis within 15 days. Translated from the Arabic Edition
