CAIRO: All electricity stations are working at full capacity to combat the coming heat waves in summer, said Hassan Yunis, Minister of Electricity and Energy. Around 4.5 million air conditioners – consuming energy equivalent to twice the power generated by the High Dam during peak hours – are currently operating in Egypt, Yunis said in a statement on Monday. He explained that over the past few months, the ministry's emergency electric stations were producing 2300 megawatts (MW) of electricity, and this energy will carry the excess electricity consumption load during heat waves. Two stations, Youth and Damiyat, are considered the workhorses during excess energy consumption, performing well even in the face of the difficult conditions caused by the January 25 Revolution. In addition to the production of Cairo thermal stations, these stations produce 2300 MW. The media office of the Ministry of Electricity and Energy urges citizens to use electricity as sparingly as possible during summer months, and to switch to energy-saving light bulbs. The fourth phase of a project designed to replace old light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs began a few months ago, reported Aktham Abu El Ela, undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity, in an announcement outlining the three phases of the project. Ela confirmed that 260 million EGP (U.S. $43.6 million) was appropriated from the state budget for this project, and that old, energy-wasting bulbs will be replaced within three fiscal years, beginning fiscal year 2008-2009. The Ministries of Electricity and Energy, Local Development and Finance are administering this project. Strict instructions from the Minister of Electricity were issued to all business leaders stressing the importance of avoiding disruptions in service during the holy month of Ramadan, Ela added. The instructions also permit the use of mobile diesel units in the event of power outage to ensure the continued health of Egyptian citizens during Ramadan.
