The shortage of gasoline and diesel is a big problem, Deputy Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawy told Al-Masry Al-Youm on Sunday.
While Beblawy acknowledged the existence of a fuel crisis, the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) continued to deny the problem.
The current fuel shortage is the responsibility of all ministers, and addressing it requires that they coordinate their efforts, Beblawy said.
The EGPC, meanwhile, insisted that it has supplied adequate quantities of fuel to each governorate.
Mohamed Shoaib, vice president of the EGPC, said all indicators show that the fuel shortage is caused by factors outside the corporation’s control.
He added that the crisis is linked to marketing and transportation issues, and said the Ministry of Social Solidarity has not filed any reports indicating the existence of a crisis.
Spreading false information about the existence of a fuel shortage gives people the opportunity to manipulate the subsidized product, he said.
Campaigns carried out by the Ministry of Social Solidarity in coordination with the EGPC led to the discovery of 17 unauthorized gas stations that consume fuel designated for use by legally-operating stations.
Minister of Petroleum Abdullah Ghorab, meanwhile, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the EGPC has set up an operations chamber to ensure distribution companies are meeting consumption demands.
He added that it has been agreed with the Ministry of Social Solidarity to intensify campaigns to inspect gas stations, particularly in governorates where shortages have been reported.
Gas stations have suffered from overcrowding over the past month due to fuel shortages, a phenomenon which has led to clashes between drivers.
