Another night with blackouts coverage dominating the airwaves, with the nation’s talking heads receiving fresh comments from our electricity minister on when we can expect the lights to stay on 24/7.

Blackouts over by year end? “We hope that the power outages will end by the end of this year at the latest,” Electricity Minister Mohamed Shaker told Fi Al Masa’ Ma Qaswa’ (watch, runtime: 23:55). Shaker’s comments came a day after President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said that ceasing power outages completely would double or triple electricity bills.

Remember: Egyptians have been suffering from rolling blackouts since last summer, as the government works to ration the consumption of natural gas production. The power cuts were originally blamed on summer heat waves, but after temperatures have fallen, officials noted that the one-hour cut saves the country some USD 300 mn per month.

ALSO ON THE AIRWAVES- Oil Ministry refutes rumors: Oil Ministry spokesperson Hamdi Abdel Aziz denied media claims that Eni has withdrawn its operations from the Zohr field after the government failed to pay overdue arrears during a phone-in with Kelma Akhira’s Lamees El Hadidi (watch, runtime: 12:09).”There are no drilling rigs inside Zohr at the moment, but Eni will start drilling work in the last quarter of the year,” he added.

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