This Tuesday (8), the government assured that Mozambique has fuel at its main ports, contradicting the fears of the population in the face of the shortages that have worsened in several provinces of the country. The situation, according to the Executive, is not the result of a lack of product, but of logistical difficulties that are jeopardising internal distribution.
The deputy minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Inocêncio Impissa, explained that the source of the problem lies in constraints in the transport chain, dismissing the idea of a supply crisis at the fuel’s entry points. ‘There is fuel in the ports. What we’re facing are challenges in getting it to the consumption centres. We are monitoring the situation and working with those involved in the sector to ensure normalisation,’ he said.
A recurring and structural problem
Fuel shortages in Mozambique are not a new phenomenon and have been recurring with increasing intensity in recent months. Provinces such as Tete, Chimoio, Nampula and Pemba have been particularly affected, with reports of queues of more than five hours at petrol stations and speculative price increases on public transport, despite attempts by local authorities to contain them.
Among the structural causes identified is the shortage of foreign currency, which makes regular fuel imports difficult. Petróleos de Moçambique (Petromoc) has warned of delays in bank guarantees and payments to international suppliers, which jeopardise the pace of procurement and distribution.
From a logistical point of view, the country faces infrastructure limitations, especially in road transport. In Maputo, for example, there have been considerable delays in the arrival of tanker lorries, jeopardising the regular replenishment of sales outlets. In the north, the impact of Cyclone Jude aggravated the situation, destroying essential roads between Nampula and Cabo Delgado, which has seriously hampered supplies to the city of Pemba.
The limited storage capacity in some regions, coupled with slow replenishment, has fuelled the parallel market and intensified popular discontent.
Reserves guaranteed, but distribution weakened
Despite the worrying situation, the Mozambican Oil Importer (IMOPETRO) recently stated that the country has enough reserves to guarantee supplies for at least 22 days. Even so, the actual replenishment at the pumps remains uneven, with consumers in various locations reporting difficulties in accessing the product.
In Tete, for example, the supply has been partially restored after around two weeks of shortages, although there are still reports of informal sales in residential neighbourhoods.
Source: O País
