Community venues throughout Egypt are rising to the occasion as the nation struggles with a major natural gas shortage that is causing widespread power outages amid an unyielding heat. High school students who are struggling with power outages at home and need help studying for important exams are finding a place to stay—churches, cafes, libraries, sports centers, and even wedding venues.
Since these locations have their own power generators, students are using them as improvised study spaces. An official extension of the rolling blackouts to three hours a day has complicated lives for hundreds of thousands of students, which is why this effort is being taken. Lower local gas production and fluctuating gas imports have severely impacted Egypt, a country that mostly relies on burning natural gas to create energy.
In response to the crisis, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced on Tuesday that Egypt would need to import $1.18 billion worth of mazut fuel oil and natural gas to alleviate the situation. He highlighted that these imports are critical to ending power cuts exacerbated by heatwaves that have spiked electricity consumption. The government aims to cease these power cuts around the third week of July, hoping to restore normalcy for the rest of the summer.
This year, more than 745,000 students are registered to take their high school exams, as stated by the education ministry. The results of these exams are crucial, determining which students will gain entry into public universities. With so much at stake, the community’s support has become indispensable.
One notable example of this communal effort is the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, situated along the Mediterranean coast. This iconic library opened its 2,000-seat reading hall for student use free of charge outside its regular operating hours, providing a cool, quiet environment conducive to studying. High school student Hassan Yazi praised the library for its atmosphere and amenities, saying, “I came here because there are many services available, it’s a nice vibe, there’s internet, and the atmosphere is calm, which encourages us to study.”
Khaled Saeed, the library’s head of security, expressed surprise at the sheer number of students taking advantage of this opportunity, indicating a pressing need for such spaces. Similarly, the Coptic Church of Saint George in Alexandria is using its generator to power halls for students, offering not just electricity but also internet access. The church’s priest, Yacoub Barsoum, noted that they are doing their best to provide a comfortable studying environment, including refreshments like water, cold beverages, and tea.
Due to the circumstances, some Cairo citizens are looking for different ways to make sure their kids can learn. After her building’s power went off for almost eight hours, Noura Saeed, a doctor and mother of a high school student, temporarily relocated to her sister’s house in a gated community. She explained that her daughter was moving for a change of environment and to help her be calm and concentrated on her schoolwork. Saeed also reported that other parents are setting up study groups in their houses, arranging things according to when their own power outages occur.
