Khaberni - The Egyptian Minister of Electricity Mahmoud Ismat revealed a shocking total of electricity theft operations in the country, confirming that the total stolen energy reached 4.6 billion kilowatt hours.
This was during a meeting held by the Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly with the Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy to review a number of ministry work files, in the context of the attention the state pays to the electricity and energy sector in the country.
According to expert estimates, the stolen energy amounting to 4.6 billion kilowatt hours is approximately equivalent to the consumption of about one million to 1.2 million average-consumption households annually in Egypt.
The value of this stolen quantity is estimated at about 10–14 billion Egyptian pounds annually, representing a significant burden on the holding companies for electricity distribution and affecting their ability to improve the network and pay dues to production stations.
The total loss rate in distribution networks in Egypt currently ranges between about 10–14%, with commercial losses from theft and meter tampering constituting the larger proportion of this loss, while technical losses from leaks in networks and transformers represent the smaller proportion.
Since 2022, the Ministry of Electricity has started a national campaign to replace traditional meters with smart prepaid meters, with more than 12 million smart meters installed by the end of 2025. The ministry aims to achieve full coverage in the coming few years.
Egypt imposes severe legal penalties for electricity theft under Electricity Law No. 87 of 2016 and the Penal Code, with penalties in some cases reaching imprisonment and large fines, in addition to charging the violator double the value of the stolen consumption.
The Minister of Electricity previously stated that combating electricity theft is not merely a technical measure, but a national issue that requires the cooperation of all parties, urging citizens to report any suspected cases of electricity theft, confirming that the state is committed to providing energy sustainably and fairly to everyone.
He noted that the ministry has successfully controlled tens of thousands of theft cases and collected large amounts from violators recently; however, the amount of stolen energy still poses a significant challenge that requires continued efforts with all firmness.
