President Mohamed Morsi met with ministers on Sunday to discuss how the government should provide basic needs such as electricity, water, gasoline and food commodities to its citizens. Prime Minister Hesham Qandil, the minister of petroleum, the minister of electricity, and the minister of irrigation and water resources attended the meeting, according to the presidency's official website. President Morsi emphasised the government's effort to address the needs of citizens, and stressed that all ministers should take immediate actions towards distributing gasoline and diesel and providing electricity, as well as water and goods, read a statement by the presidential office. The president ordered the creation of petroleum product stocks for all areas especially the Upper Egyptian governorates which suffer the most. Morsi also demanded the Ministry of Petroleum to evaluate the implementation rates of smart cards that ensure the arrival of fuel and petroleum products from warehouses to gas stations. As for the field of electricity and energy, Morsi outlined his plan to complete power plants and to deliver fuel in order to guarantee the highest degrees of efficiency. He also recommended a greater reliance on alternative energy to produce electricity. The president highlighted the importance of completing drinking water and sanitation projects before the fiscal year, in addition to working with the Ministries of Electricity and Irrigation to ensure that drinking water is available in all governorates. In the statement issued by the presidential office, Morsi requested the minister of irrigation and water resources to compensate all farmers affected by the scarcity of water. The president stressed the need for a daily follow-up to monitor all the necessities of Egyptians and for joint coordination with all concerned bodies in the provinces, read the statement.
