Egypt's top refinery hopes expansion will revive exports

Egypt's largest oil refinery hopes a planned expansion will allow it to export after years of production being diverted to the domestic market, the company's chairman said in an interview at the Midor refinery.

Mohamed Abdel Aziz said the refinery would increase capacity to 160,000 barrels per day by end-2017 from 100,000 barrels now.

That would allow Midor, which provides a quarter of the country's petroleum product needs, to help Egypt face a growing energy crisis and eventually export, he said.

"Midor wants to increase production to meet Egypt's energy requirements and have the capacity to be able to refine for others," Abdel Aziz said.

Egypt has struggled with soaring energy bills caused by high subsidies it provides on fuel for its population of 85 million.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's government raised fuel prices by up to 78 percent this summer.