CAIRO: Just days after the recent butane crisis, Egypt is facing another crisis: a shortage of diesel fuel in many governorates. The shortage is expected to cause a rise in prices and fees and could lead to a bread crisis. Already the shortage has led to an increase in diesel prices from 1.75 EGP (U.S. $0.30) to 2.00 EGP (U.S. $0.40) per liter. Owners of facilities accused supply inspectors of complicity with the owners of diesel stations to block diesel for them and sell it secretly at higher prices. Cairo citizens blame the government for not dealing with the crisis quickly. Citizens say minibus drivers have used the crisis as an excuse to increase fare prices under the pretext of having to purchase diesel at twice the normal price on the black market. The increase would greatly impact the daily lives of many Egyptians who rely on minibuses for transportation. Many bakery owners have closed their bakeries, also blaming the diesel shortage. The owners complain that the government exploited the crisis to increase the price of diesel to 2 EGP. Bakery owners warned of increased prices and lack of availability of bread if the Ministry of Integration and Social Justice doesn't provide bakeries with diesel. The chairman of the bakery branch of the Chamber of Commerce, Farag Wahba, confirmed bakeries were not provided with enough diesel fuel because of a notable shortage of diesel and the rise of its prices. He demanded the Ministry of Integration and Social Justice provide all bakeries in different governorates with diesel to avoid any possible bread crisis. An official in the Ministry of Integration and Social Justice told Youm7 that his ministry asked the Ministry of Petrol to provide stations with diesel to resolve the current crisis. The ministry also demanded all governorates supervise selling diesel at its original price.
