The Ministry of Supply denied plans to raise the prices of gas cylinders after claims that they would increase during the coming weeks, al-Shorouq newspaper reported Thursday.
The Ministry didn’t receive any official instructions to increase the prices of gas cylinders, official spokesperson of the Ministry of Supply Mahmoud Diab told al-Shorouq on Thursday.
There had been claims circulated during the past weeks that the prices of the gas cylinders would increase after Eid al-Fitr due to the recent fuel prices increase early July.
On June 7, Diab said the Ministry of Supply agreed with several food produce companies to fix prices of 30 food commodities until 2015.
Diab asserted the role of the supply ministry is to “monitor the subsidized products and ensure they reach citizens with their normal prices.”
He added the supply ministry will implement the coupon system of the butane gas cylinders after coordination with the ministries of administrative development and petroleum.
The Ministry has pumped many gas cylinders to homes and shops to avoid any deficiency during Ramadan, Diab said.
On July 5, The Cabinet has increased the prices of fuel by 0.70 EGP to 0.75 EGP ($0.04-$0.05) per liter and asserted that prices of electricity will rise during the upcoming few weeks. The decision was criticized by several consumer protection associations, which expected a consequent rise in the prices of food commodities.
Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Khalid Hanafi announced in a meeting with Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab on July 3 that the ministry will continue to provide food commodities to citizens at reduced prices.
“Food commodities prices will not increase in the near future after fuel prices increased,” Hanafi said in a press conference on July 4, according to Al-Shorouk newspaper.
On the 62nd anniversary of July 23 Revolution, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi said in his televised speech the gradual lifting of subsidies on fuel was a “necessity” to tackle the budget deficit.