Egyptian gas stations prepare for rationing

Egyptian gas stations will begin distributing gasoline and diesel fuel under a coupon system in July, according to Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Osama Kamal.

Preparations for implementing the plan, previously scheduled to begin in April, are now complete, Kamal said February 20th.

The plan aims "to rationalise subsidies and petroleum product consumption by limiting the quantity distributed on the markets, ultimately reducing consumption", said Radwan Fathallah, marketing studies adviser at the ministry.

All subsidy beneficiaries will be issued smart cards -- five million of which have already been prepared -- and they will use these to obtain their allocated amount of fuel, Fathallah said.

Private cars with a tank capacity of 1,600 cubic centimetres or less will be allocated 150 litres per month, large mass transit vehicles will be allocated 10,000 litres of diesel per year and heavy trucks will be allocated 100,000 litres of diesel per year.

"If a citizen exhausts his allocated amount, he will buy additional amounts at prices yet to be determined," Fathallah said.