CAIRO, May 26 (Reuters) - Egypt's energy subsidy bill reached 41 billion Egyptian pounds ($4.62 billion) during the first nine months of the 2015-16 financial year, down 27 percent from 56 billion in 2014-2015, an oil ministry official told Reuters on Thursday.

Oil Minister Tarek El Molla said on Tuesday that the bill would reach between 45 and 48 billion pounds for the full year.

($1 = 8.8799 Egyptian pounds)

(Reporting by Ehab Farouk; Writing by Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by Dominic Evans) ((ahmed.aboulenein@thomsonreuters.com; +20 2 2394 8097; Reuters Messaging: ahmed.aboulenein.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))