652 complaints on pricing violations raised amid final fuel subsidies cut

CAIRO - 13 July 2019: The number of complaints raised by citizens on July 5-10 regarding the repercussions of the final tranche of fuel subsidy cut is 652, according to the Unified Complaint System.

Head of the Unified Complaint System Tarek al-Refai indicated in a report raised to Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly that 466 of the total complaints are about private transport drivers not abiding by the official fares, and 139 complaints about retailers selling butane gas cylinders in prices higher than those announced by the government.

Thirty-five complaints were raised by citizens even before the cut took place, as some gas stations abstained from selling gasoline to citizens so they would later offer it in higher prices. Also, some retailers had raised the prices of butane gas cylinders before the cut took effect.

Refai said institutions in charge have been following up on such complaints and taking the necessary measures against violators. He added that the municipal authorities have been checking on service providers to ensure they are abiding the prices and fares set by the government.

After the rise in fuel prices, the municipal authorities of governorates put banners indicating fares at bus stations and stuck them on the vehicles.

Refai mentioned in the report that the system received 357 inquiries July 5-9 about the fares of certain lines, and the new prices of fuel, butane gas cylinders, and natural gas used by households and commercial units. Of those, 105 inquiries were received on the first day.

Compared to 2018, the number of complaints raised after this year’s energy subsidy cut is 29 percent lower as it was 867 last year while the number in 2019 is just 617.