Mozambique’s government approved on Tuesday, 7 July, through the Council of Ministers, a payment mechanism valued at $50 million (approximately 3.2 billion meticais) to secure the continuous supply of liquid fuels across the country. The measure will be implemented by state energy company Petromoc and is designed to facilitate payments to foreign creditors.
The decision comes as Mozambique has faced months of fuel supply disruptions, marked by the closure of filling stations, long queues, purchase restrictions on petrol and diesel, and reduced fuel deliveries to the transport sector.
According to the government, the crisis is primarily linked to a scarcity of foreign exchange, particularly US dollars, which has hampered the ability of fuel importers and distributors to settle payments. As a result, fuel has been unable to move efficiently out of ports and reach filling stations across the country.
Under normal conditions, distributors use US dollar-denominated bank guarantees to make payments to suppliers at ports. However, a number of companies have been unable to secure such guarantees from commercial banks, compounding the constraints on national fuel supply.
Government spokesperson and Minister of State Administration Inocêncio Impissa said the resolution approved by the Council of Ministers establishes a payment facility for foreign creditors, to be managed by Petromoc, with the objective of ensuring the continuity of fuel imports.
“The $50 million fund will guarantee the supply of liquid fuels and ensure continuity throughout the country, while minimising the impact on consumers and economic activity. Petromoc will have access to a bank account held by the Ministry of Finance at the Bank of Mozambique to make payments to foreign creditors,” Impissa said.
The fuel supply crisis is unfolding against a backdrop of international tensions stemming from the Middle East conflict, which has driven up fuel prices globally. In May, the government approved a fuel price adjustment under which diesel rose 45.5% to 116.25 meticais per litre, while petrol increased 12.1% to 93.69 meticais per litre.
The price increases were attributed to the impact of international instability on energy markets, including the effects of the conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — a strategic shipping route through which approximately 20% of global oil sales pass.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/07/09/oilgas/governo-aprova-mecanismo-de-50-m-para-garantir-abastecimento-de-combustiveis/
