Just a few days before the anniversary of the revolution on 25 January, Egypt is experiencing several crises, namely the shortage of gasoline and ongoing protests.
On Monday, cars continued queuing at the gas stations in Cairo and Giza, which said they had no gas or diesel to pump, while the governorates’ governors ordered the stations to work only in the evening so as not to congest traffic.
Egypt's Oil Ministry on Monday dismissed claims of petrol shortages in the country as huge queues formed outside petrol stations. The ministry said authorities were already pumping 21.5 million liters daily.
"We are currently pumping 21.5 million liters of petrol daily across the country to meet the needs of the local market," Oil Ministry Undersecretary Mahmud Nazim told reporters.
He said nine million liters daily were allocated to Cairo alone.
His comments came after massive gridlock plagued Cairo on Sunday as motorists raced to fill up their cars amid rumors that the price of petrol would rise, media reported.
Nazim said the rumors were "unfounded," adding that Egypt was not facing any shortages.
"The majority of Egypt’s gasoline needs are produced by local refineries. Imports are estimated at not more than 10 percent, and all gasoline production units are working at full capacity," he told reporters.
Petrol in Egypt is subsidized and sold at almost half the market value.
But the gas crisis is not the only one. The country has witnessed several protests and sit-ins as well.
Mass protests have built up momentum over the past year, disrupting daily life and casting doubts over the ability of the ruling military generals to run the country.
Residents of Al-Borolos area blocked Port Said-Alexandria International Highway in protest against a shortage of butane gas cylinders.
Upper Egypt-bound trains are stalled for a second day due to protests blocking railroads in Qena and Sohag governorates, Egyptian National Railways head Hany Hegab said Monday.
In Sohag, trains stopped for seven hours as protesters blocked the railways to protest election results.
In Qena Governorate's city of Naga Hammadi, people protested against the election result and blocked railways for several hours.
The Egyptian Railways Authority has lost about LE70 million from 28 January 2011 to 10 January 2012, according to an official report on the impact of railroad strikes and sit-ins since the 25 January revolution began.
Also, truckers held demonstrations, stopping traffic in Nasr City in protest against high traffic fines.
