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Egypt raises domestic fuel costs by up to 15% before IMF evaluation

Egypt raised the prices of a. vast array of fuel items on Thursday, the official gazette. said, four days before the International Monetary Fund (IMF). conducts a third evaluation of its broadened $8 billion loan. programme for the country.

The official gazette, citing the petroleum ministry, said. fuel prices increased by approximately 15% per litre, with 80 octane. rising to 12.25 Egyptian pounds ($ 0.25), 92 octane to 13.75. pounds and 95 octane to 15 pounds.

Diesel, one of the most frequently used fuels, saw the most significant. increase, rising to 11.50 Egyptian pounds ($ 0.24) from 10. pounds.

This is the second time the federal government has raised fuel. rates because the IMF expanded its loan programme by $5 billion. in March. Egypt has devoted to slashing fuel aids as part. of the agreement.

But Egyptians who talked to , including taxi driver. Sayed Abdo, grumbled that Thursday's move would indicate an. automatic boost in rates for everyday products.

If you ride with me today and generally pay 10 Egyptian. pounds, I will ask you for 15, due to the fact that fuel rates are raised. That's typical, due to the fact that when I go get food, what I utilized to purchase. with 10 Egyptian pounds becomes now for 15, he stated.

We do not know where we're headed with these rates.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly stated rates of. petroleum items will gradually increase up until the end of. 2025, adding that the government could no longer bear the concern. of increasing usage.

Egyptians have actually also withstood blackouts, which Madbouly said. had ended at the start of this week, as the nation had a hard time to. import sufficient gas to tackle the summertime heat.

In April, the IMF estimated that Egypt will spend 331. billion Egyptian pounds ($ 6.85 billion) on fuel aids in. 2024/25 and 245 billion in 2025/26.

The IMF's approval for the third review of the expanded loan. program was initially anticipated on July 10, however was pressed back. to July 29, with the lending institution attributing the hold-up to the. finalisation of some policy details. An IMF representative. declined to discuss those information.

The IMF is anticipated to disburse $820 million to Egypt after. concluding its review.

(source: Reuters)