More energy reforms needed, IMF tells Egypt
The Egyptian economy continued to improve in 2018, according to the organisation, but further measures are needed
In 2016, the International Monetary Fund agreed to help Egypt's economy recover from years of crisis by providing it with disbursements totaling $12bn. The deal was conditional on the government reducing subsidies on basic goods and services, including sources of energy. Fuel subsidies, according to the IMF, have represented "an important share of budget spending in the past, contributing to increased deficits and debt, and crowding out spending on education and health". The IMF, in its latest review of the Egyptian economy, praised the government's performance since the loan programme began, saying that its "fiscal consolidation plan remains on track". But it also wrote that there's still
Also in this section
5 March 2026
Gas is a central pillar of Colombia’s energy system, but declining production poses a significant challenge, and LNG will be increasingly needed as a stopgap. A recent major offshore gas discovery offers hope, but policy improvements are also required, Camilo Morales, secretary general of Naturgas, the Colombian gas association, tells Petroleum Economist
4 March 2026
The continent’s inventories were already depleted before conflict erupted in the Middle East, causing prices to spike ahead of the crucial summer refilling season
4 March 2026
The US president has repeatedly promised to lower gasoline prices, but this ambition conflicts with his parallel aim to increase drilling and could be upended by his war against Iran
4 March 2026
With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed following US-Israel strikes and Iran’s retaliatory escalation, Fujairah has become the region’s critical pressure release valve—and is now under serious threat






