Dr. Hafez ElSalmawy, Professor of Energy Engineering and former CEO of the Electricity Regulatory Authority and Consumer Protection Agency, advised starting to reduce electricity bills in Egypt by reducing consumption in the kitchen, specifically in the refrigerator.
In an interview with “Food & Climate,” ElSalmawy added that refrigerators consume the largest share of electricity in homes.
Refrigerators run around the clock to preserve food and drinks, and by following certain guidelines, citizens can significantly reduce their electricity consumption.
Conserving energy not only saves people money but also has a positive impact on the climate, as reduced energy consumption means fewer emissions.
An advertising campaign to promote electricity conservation in Egypt was launched several weeks ago, featuring many well-known actors, including Ahmed ElAwady, Reham AbdelGhafour, and Hala Sedky. The conservation campaign focuses on switching off lights when not needed.
However, ElSalmawy stated, “Refrigerators are among the biggest consumers of electricity, followed by electric water heaters, and then light bulbs if they are not energy-efficient (LED).”
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Like other countries worldwide, Egypt has been experiencing severe heat waves in recent summers, coinciding with a sharp decline in natural gas production, which powers most (60%) of power plants, while consumption continues to rise.
To meet these needs, Egypt has resorted to increasing imports. Imports of liquefied natural gas (natural gas converted into liquid form so it can be transported by tankers without pipelines) jumped by over 220% in 2025 and by 166% in the first quarter of 2026.
Reducing electricity bills in Egypt by getting rid of millions of refrigerators
According to Dr. Hafez ElSalmawy, there are approximately 30 million refrigerators of various types in Egypt, including 10 million older models.
ElSalmawy explained, in In an interview with “Food & Climate,” he stated that reducing electricity bills in Egypt should begin with switching to modern refrigerators, as older models consume three times more electricity than newer ones.
Recognizing the importance of conserving electricity by replacing old refrigerators with modern ones in homes, the government developed the National Energy Efficiency Plan, one of whose objectives was to replace one million refrigerators by 2018.
However, according to Salmawy, this plan was not implemented.
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ِِِElSalmawy said, “This plan suffered the same fate as other energy conservation programs in Egypt, which began in the 1980s. Any improvement in energy consumption has been a result of technological advancements.”
Salmawy advised the government to offer incentives to citizens to encourage participation in energy efficiency programs. “If people don’t benefit from the program, why would they participate?” he asked.
ElSalmawy believes that implementing a refrigerator replacement program similar to the white taxi program of several years ago would be highly successful.
The fund affiliated with the Ministry of Finance provided the necessary financial incentives to white taxi owners through this program, allowing them to advertise on their vehicles. By reducing the installment he must pay to the lending bank.
The Ministry of Finance also pays 5,000 Egyptian pounds for scrapping the old car, and pays the sales tax due on the new car on behalf of the taxi owner. Additionally, there is a customs exemption on imported components needed to assemble the new cars.
Upgrading Other Appliances
Dr. Hafez ElSalmawy stated that reducing electricity bills in Egypt should begin in the kitchen with upgrading the refrigerator, but upgrading other appliances, such as televisions, which consume significantly less electricity, is also essential.
He explained that to implement a successful energy conservation program, five important steps must be followed:
- Appropriate electricity pricing.
- Having an energy manager in industrial and commercial establishments to monitor consumption levels, as required by the 2015 Electricity Law.
- Government programs offering affordable financing to facilitate the purchase of a new refrigerator and the replacement of the old one.
- Providing technical support to industry, administrative buildings, and hotels.
- Raising public awareness.
ElSalmawy pointed out that it is crucial for citizens to understand that buying a new refrigerator will reduce their electricity bill by a percentage that may be recouped later.
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He advised those wishing to purchase a new refrigerator to check the energy efficiency rating On its card.