President of the Republic Daniel Chapo acknowledged on Thursday, May 7, that the increase in fuel prices was inevitable, stressing that prices in Mozambique remain among the lowest in the region and calling for calm to avoid “unrest.”
“The fuel problem is not only Mozambique’s problem, it is a global issue. Yesterday we decided that we had to increase prices because we had already held out for almost two months hoping the war would end,” the Head of State explained, quoted by Lusa.
The president recalled that the Government had been warning over the past two months about a possible price increase, stating that it would hold prices until the end of April or the beginning of May, depending on fuel stock levels.
“With the arrival of ships carrying fuel at new prices and with a crisis already affecting the market, including closed fuel stations, widespread queues and activities being brought to a halt across the country due to fuel shortages, the situation changed,” he said.
Even so, he emphasized that fuel prices in Mozambique, despite the increase, remain the lowest in the region.
“Compared to Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and South Africa, we still have the lowest prices. Therefore, we cannot allow enemies of development, peace and stability to spread rumours, misinformation and stir unrest among the Mozambican people.”
“We must focus on production so that this global crisis caused by war and fuel prices does not affect us,” Daniel Chapo added, appealing for national unity and cohesion.
Meeting in the Council of Ministers, the Government announced adjustments to fuel prices, which came into effect today, Thursday, May 7, across the country, justifying the revision as being in line with international market prices.
“The price of gasoline rises to 93.69 meticais per litre, from the previous 83.57 meticais, while diesel increases from 79.88 meticais to 116.25 meticais. Kerosene rises from 66.86 meticais to 97.56 meticais per litre, cooking gas will increase from 86.05 meticais to 87.82 meticais per kilogram, and compressed natural gas for vehicles will go from 41.11 meticais to 52.73 meticais per litre,” detailed Paulo da Graça, Chairman of the Energy Regulatory Authority (Arene).
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a military attack against Iran, during which Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader since 1989, was killed. In response, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz and launched retaliatory strikes against targets in Israel, U.S. bases and other infrastructure in countries across the region.
The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, is crossed by around 20% of the world’s oil and a significant share of liquefied natural gas transported by sea, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the United Nations.
Source: Diário Económico
