Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority denied that Egypt had received a request from the United States to close the Suez Canal to Russian shipments.
Rabie said in televised statements on Tuesday: “The Suez Canal is global and is not subject to politics and war. According to the Constantinople agreement, the canal is global, neutral, and we cannot prevent any ship that passes through it.”
The head of the authority added that the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis on navigation in the canal is not yet clear.
He pointed out that the Suez Canal Authority is considering making cuts of up to 75% for shipments carrying grain from northwestern Europe and the American east coast.
Two days ago, the Suez Canal Authority announced the imposition of an additional fee of 10% on transiting ships, which was applied starting today. Rabie explained that the increase in fees for passage through the canal came as a result of the increase in fuel prices, which exceeded $100 per barrel.
He added: "This increase can be reduced. it is dependent on the market. Navigational fees change at any time according to global change, and they differ from annual fees.
Rabie expected that the grain trade would also go through other routes other than the Suez Canal; the demand for oil passing through the canal is also expected to increase, and these matters are studied well.
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