Government Assistance for Transport Sector
The Moroccan government has taken a decisive step to support road transporters grappling with soaring fuel prices, a situation exacerbated by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. An official statement released on Tuesday outlined the government's exceptional aid aimed at mitigating the impact of rising hydrocarbon prices on the domestic market. The initiative is intended to safeguard citizens' purchasing power, ensure a steady supply of goods, and maintain the continuity of logistical operations, as emphasized by Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch's office.
Starting this Friday, transport professionals—including those in freight, passenger transport, and taxi services—will be able to submit their applications through a dedicated online platform. This comes in response to a significant increase in fuel prices, which saw a jump of two dirhams per liter (approximately €0.19) for diesel and 1.44 dirhams (about €0.13) for gasoline, following a recent conflict initiated by an Israeli-American attack on Iran. Local media reported long queues of motorists at gas stations across several cities just prior to this price hike.
Previous Subsidies and Ongoing Criticism
The recent fuel price surge has reignited criticisms regarding the government's management of the hydrocarbon sector since its liberalization in 2015. Concerns have been raised about the country's strategic reserves, which reportedly fall short of the legal requirement of maintaining 60 days' worth of supply. Additionally, last year, the government allocated nearly €200 million in exceptional subsidies to transporters in response to rising fuel prices following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has significantly influenced global oil markets.
As reported by connaissancedesenergies.org.
