A power outage in seven governorates across Upper Egypt two days ago has led to massive losses in the tourist sectors of Hurghada, Safaga and Sahl Hasheesh after large quantities of stored food, vegetables and frozen meat went bad. Aktham Abul Ela, first deputy minister of electricity and spokesperson for the ministry, attributed the sudden power loss to the increase in temperature and overloading of power stations. An official source from the ministry said electricity experts from the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) are examining ways to avoid the repetition of power failures through the introduction of ” nontraditional solutions”. The source however did not rule out the possibility of future power outages. The same source said the state must undertake a national campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of electricity over-consumption. In related news, Farag Abdel Hamid, assistant general secretary of the Sohag govenrorate, said the sudden hour-long halt of the Naga Hammadi power station led to a power outage at the Mubarak International Airport in Suhag. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
