Egypt 's Oil Minister Sherif Haddara on Monday reshuffled several officials at the top of state-owned companies in the energy sector in a bid to tackle the deepening fuel crisis that is gripping the country.

The move is aimed at "improving the performance of the petroleum sector, and giving it a push to cope with the demands of the current situation [in the country]," the ministry said in a statement posted on its website.

Egypt has faced a chronic natural gas and diesel shortage since last year, which has pushed up food costs, seen long lines at filling stations and electricity blackouts. The problems have deepened popular discontent with Egypt 's ruling Islamist government and exacerbated broader economic difficulties there.

Among the key management changes, Taher Abdel Reheem, the deputy chairman for production at Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Co., or EGAS, was appointed the chairman of Egypt 's main gas company. He replaces Sherif Sousa, who becomes undersecretary for gas affairs at the petroleum ministry.

A further eight state-owned firms saw senior management changes including Gulf of Suez Petroleum Co. and Suez Oil Co., the statement added.

The move also comes at a time when the country is involved in critical talks to negotiate oil and gas deals with its neighbors.

The country is talks with gas-rich Qatar to supply about 13 cargoes of liquefied natural gas, or LNG, to the overseas customers of two companies currently exporting gas from Egypt --BG Group PLC (BG.LN) and Malaysia 's Petroliam Nasional Bhd, or Petronas. Those companies would in turn would supply an extra 500 million cubic feet a day of domestically produced natural gas, which would otherwise have been exported, to Egypt 's government.

Egypt is also struggling to complete oil-supply agreements with Iraq and Libya aimed at easing diesel shortages. The country has been unable to provide acceptable bank guarantees that would facilitate the flow of oil, people familiar with the talks have said. The Egyptian government is short of funds and has been negotiating with the International Monetary Fund for a $4.8 billion loan, which analysts and investors say is critical for the country. However, IMF officials left Cairo in April without agreeing on the terms of the loan.

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