Electricity Min. Turns to Cash Payments After Ramses Telecom Fire Disrupts Prepaid Meters

In the wake of the Ramses Central Telecommunications Center fire, Egypt’s Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy has announced emergency measures to ensure continued access to prepaid electricity meter services, which were partially disrupted due to the outage of internet and telecom systems.

According to senior ministry officials, the fire caused a temporary shutdown of backend systems linked to telecom providers, affecting electronic recharging and online payment capabilities for electricity meters across several regions.

Emergency Protocols Activated

In response, the Ministry has begun encouraging customers to use cash payments at authorized points of sale and has coordinated with "Fawry", a leading e-payment platform, to extend working hours and enhance service availability for prepaid meter users.

“The disruption was not widespread, but it did impact a number of customers who rely on mobile apps or online platforms for meter top-ups,” a ministry source said. “We have deployed technical teams to receive complaints and offer immediate solutions where possible.”

Ministry Deploys Response Teams

The Ministry confirmed that emergency response teams have been dispatched across governorates to handle customer complaints and ensure the continuity of services. Additional staff have been placed on call, and operating hours have been extended at several electricity distribution branches.

Meanwhile, electricity supply across the country remains stable, with no reported outages resulting from the telecom incident.

Digital Dependency Exposed

The fire at the Ramses Central exchange has exposed a critical dependency on digital infrastructure, especially for sectors like utilities that have increasingly adopted smart systems and e-payments.

Analysts warn that redundant systems and offline backup solutions are necessary to avoid paralyzing public services during unexpected digital failures.

Looking Ahead

The Ministry of Electricity is currently working with telecom providers to restore full digital functionality and is reviewing its digital resilience plans in light of the incident. Customers are advised to use in-person or cash-based recharging options temporarily until full services are restored.