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Egypt Needs to Import $1.18 Billion in Fuel to End Power Cuts, PM Says

The moon is seen after the day of Strawberry Moon over old houses in Cairo, Egypt, June 22, 2024. (Reuters)
The moon is seen after the day of Strawberry Moon over old houses in Cairo, Egypt, June 22, 2024. (Reuters)
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Egypt Needs to Import $1.18 Billion in Fuel to End Power Cuts, PM Says

The moon is seen after the day of Strawberry Moon over old houses in Cairo, Egypt, June 22, 2024. (Reuters)
The moon is seen after the day of Strawberry Moon over old houses in Cairo, Egypt, June 22, 2024. (Reuters)

Egypt needs to import around $1.18 billion worth of mazut fuel oil and natural gas to end persistent power cuts exacerbated by consecutive heat waves, its Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said in a televised address on Tuesday.

It hopes the shipments will arrive in full around the third week of July, by which point the government aims to stop cutting power during the remaining summer months, he added.

It has already started contracting for 300,000 tons of mazut worth $180 million to boost its strategic reserves which are expected to arrive early next week.

Egypt's government on Monday extended daily power cuts to three hours from two hours previously in response to a surge in domestic electricity consumption during the latest heat wave.

These three-hour cuts will continue until the end of June, before returning to two hours in the first half of July with the aim of stopping completely for the rest of the summer, Madbouly said on Tuesday.

Egyptian social media has lit up with complaints about the impact of the blackouts, with some saying they have been forced to purchase private power generators.

The problem has particularly affected teenagers preparing for the crucial high school certificate, with some posting about students studying by candlelight and others in coffee shops.

A wedding hall owner in the coastal city of Port Said said he would turn one of his ballrooms into a study hall.

Since July last year, load shedding linked to falling gas production, rising demand and a shortage of foreign currency has led to scheduled two-hour daily power cuts in most areas.

"We had said that we planned to end load shedding by the end of 2024... we do not have a power generation problem or a network problem, we are unable to provide fuel," Madbouly said on Tuesday.

"With the increase in consumption related to the major development and population increase, there has been a lot of pressure on our dollar resources," he added.

He said production in a neighboring country's gas field had come to a full halt for 12 hours leading to an interruption in the supply, without naming the country or the gas field.

Egypt's Abu Qir Fertilizers said on Tuesday three of its plants had halted production because their supply of natural gas was cut.

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Arab World

Sharaa Receives Kurdish Delegation for Eid, Nowruz: Cultural Diversity Source of Syria’s Strength

A group photo during Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s reception in Damascus of a Kurdish delegation marking Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz. (Syrian Presidency)
A group photo during Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s reception in Damascus of a Kurdish delegation marking Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz. (Syrian Presidency)
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Sharaa Receives Kurdish Delegation for Eid, Nowruz: Cultural Diversity Source of Syria’s Strength

A group photo during Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s reception in Damascus of a Kurdish delegation marking Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz. (Syrian Presidency)
A group photo during Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s reception in Damascus of a Kurdish delegation marking Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz. (Syrian Presidency)

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa received in Damascus on Saturday a Kurdish delegation on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz. The event was attended by the governors of Aleppo, Raqqa and Hasakeh, as well as a presidential envoy overseeing the implementation of a January 29 agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Sharaa said Nowruz was a “national holiday” reflecting the identity of Syria’s Kurdish community, while stressing that “the Syrian people are one.”

He said guaranteeing Kurdish rights was a fundamental principle and described Syria’s cultural diversity as a source of strength, according to state news agency SANA.

Participants welcomed a 2026 presidential decree granting rights to Kurds, stressing the importance of national unity, partnership and restricting weapons to state control.

It was the first time Nowruz has been celebrated as an official national holiday in Syria.

Kurdish academic and independent politician Farid Saadoun told Asharq Al-Awsat that Sharaa announced plans to allocate up to $1 billion to rebuild infrastructure in northern Syria.

The meeting, coordinated by authorities in Hasakeh, lasted about 90 minutes and included between 50 and 60 Kurdish figures, including representatives of the Kurdish National Council, independents, academics and civil society figures.

Saadoun said the delegation represented Kurds from across Syria, including Kobani, Afrin and Damascus, but noted that the Democratic Union Party (PYD) did not attend despite being invited.

He described the meeting as “historic,” saying it was the first time a Syrian president had received a Kurdish delegation to exchange greetings for Eid and Nowruz.

According to Saadoun, Sharaa said Syria was entering a “new phase,” declaring that “the past has ended” and calling on Syrians to unite to rebuild the country.

He emphasized Kurdish rights to “dignity, freedom and participation” after years of marginalization under the previous government, adding that Kurds would have a role in state institutions.

Sharaa said the government would focus on rebuilding infrastructure in the north, improving education and reinstating dismissed public employees.

On the January 29 agreement with the SDF, Saadoun said the president reaffirmed his commitment to its implementation, aimed at stabilizing the country and restoring services.

“We are moving steadily toward integration and delivering services to the people,” Sharaa was quoted as saying.

Mahmoud Khalil, deputy head of internal security in Hasakeh, said he attended the event alongside local officials. He said discussions also covered detainees and the return of displaced people to Afrin and Ras al-Ain.

Khalil said a special committee had been formed on Sharaa’s instructions to follow up on these issues and support stability efforts.

Arab World

Opposition to Beirut Displacement Center Rises over Security, Sectarian Concerns

The site of a displacement shelter under construction in the Karantina area near Beirut port (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The site of a displacement shelter under construction in the Karantina area near Beirut port (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Opposition to Beirut Displacement Center Rises over Security, Sectarian Concerns

The site of a displacement shelter under construction in the Karantina area near Beirut port (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The site of a displacement shelter under construction in the Karantina area near Beirut port (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Security and sectarian concerns are fueling opposition in Lebanon to plans for a displacement center in central Beirut, as ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah drives new waves of displaced people.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has called for tighter security measures, amid growing political and public debate over establishing shelters for those displaced, most recently in the Karantina area near Beirut port.

At a security meeting at the Grand Serail, Salam stressed “the need to intensify security measures across Lebanon, particularly in Beirut, to safeguard citizens and their property,” citing developments in the south and the resulting displacement and security challenges.

A government decision to set up the displacement center in Karantina has triggered controversy, with several lawmakers urging it be scrapped on security and political grounds.

Although about 70 percent of the facility had been completed shortly after work began, informed sources said construction has been temporarily halted pending further review, without ruling out cancelling the project altogether. Funding is provided by international organizations and civil society groups.

Sources said the dispute reflects both political and sectarian sensitivities, while acknowledging that some concerns are legitimate. They added that security forces and the Lebanese Red Cross would oversee the center, with detailed registries of residents to ensure control.

The facility is intended to house around 800 people, particularly families unwilling to relocate to northern Lebanon or Mount Lebanon, preferring to remain in Beirut near their homes.

The suspension followed criticism from several political figures. MP Nicolas Sehnaoui of the Free Patriotic Movement described the project as “wrong in every sense,” calling for alternative solutions.

Lebanese Forces MP Razi Hage warned against turning the Karantina-port area into “a security and social hotspot under the pretext of a displacement center,” adding that temporary measures often become permanent.

For his part, Independent MP Waddah Sadek warned Beirut risked fragmenting into “security zones” and areas lacking oversight, while MP Fouad Makhzoumi urged the government to reconsider plans for large shelters in Karantina and Martyrs’ Square.

“While we fully recognize the humanitarian dimension, we respectfully urge reconsideration,” he said, warning of security and organizational repercussions.

The debate comes after Israeli strikes targeted areas previously considered relatively safe. Israel said it had targeted members of Hezbollah and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in Aramoun in Mount Lebanon and areas near central Beirut.

The strikes have heightened concerns among residents in host communities, complicating efforts to respond to the growing displacement crisis.

Arab World

Hamas Moves to Freeze Leadership Vote amid Regional Turmoil

Palestinians wave Hamas flags during the reception of released Palestinian prisoners in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, November 2023 (AFP) 
Palestinians wave Hamas flags during the reception of released Palestinian prisoners in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, November 2023 (AFP) 
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Hamas Moves to Freeze Leadership Vote amid Regional Turmoil

Palestinians wave Hamas flags during the reception of released Palestinian prisoners in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, November 2023 (AFP) 
Palestinians wave Hamas flags during the reception of released Palestinian prisoners in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, November 2023 (AFP) 

Hamas is moving toward freezing its leadership election process as the US-Israeli war against Iran reshapes the region’s political and security landscape, senior sources in and outside Gaza said.

The Palestinian militant group had been preparing to elect a new head of its political bureau, but multiple sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that a “near-final” decision has emerged to suspend the vote due to mounting complications.

For about 18 months, Hamas has been run by a “leadership council.” In recent weeks, efforts intensified to appoint a new leader to serve the remainder of the current political bureau’s term, extended to 2026. Broader internal elections had been expected later this year or early next year.

Four well-informed sources said current regional conditions, particularly with leading candidates based abroad, have pushed the movement toward delaying the process.

The race has focused on Khaled Meshaal, Hamas’ political chief abroad, and Khalil al-Hayya, a Gaza-based senior figure who leads ceasefire negotiations. Both are members of the leadership council chaired by Mohammed Darwish, head of the group’s Shura Council. Other members include Zaher Jabarin and Nizar Awadallah.

Sources said al-Hayya is believed to have backing from Hamas figures in Gaza and its armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, while Meshaal enjoys stronger support in the West Bank and among members abroad.

Two sources - one in Gaza and one outside - said a decision could be taken within days to cancel the current vote and instead hold full political bureau elections at the end of the year.

“The region is undergoing major security and political changes,” one source outside Gaza said. “Field conditions require postponement, and there is growing support for holding a single comprehensive election.”

After the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July 2024, the group appointed Yahya Sinwar as his successor. Following Sinwar’s death in clashes in Rafah in October 2024, Hamas shifted to collective leadership under the council.

A source in Gaza said time constraints were also a factor. “We are approaching April, and there is little time left before the end of the extended term. There is near consensus to cancel elections for now,” the source underlined.

He added that regional developments could significantly affect the Palestinian cause, while Hamas is focusing on diplomatic efforts linked to Gaza’s future.

However, not all Hamas officials support freezing the process. A source outside Gaza said the issue “has not been settled,” describing any delay as temporary.

A senior Hamas figure abroad said much of the election process had already been completed. “It is not logical to cancel after such progress,” he explained.

War impact

The war has also stirred internal tensions within Hamas over Iran’s strikes on Gulf countries.

Hamas, which maintains close ties with Tehran, initially faced pressure after its armed wing praised the Iranian attacks. The group later called on Iran to halt the strikes following criticism.

Sources said Qatar has taken measures in recent days against some Hamas figures over statements supporting Iran.