Maputo, June 29, 2026 (Lusa) - The president of the Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA) said that the country’s business sector is concerned and remains under “severe strain” due to irregularities in fuel supplies, following the conflict in the Middle East.
“The economy needs to recover. Business leaders have a duty to get things back on track and pick up the pace so that we can resume production and improve our economic indicators. Fortunately, we still have just enough to get about, but we remain alert because as long as the conflicts persist, we may face this risk,” said Álvaro Massingue, president of the CTA, quoted today on public television, referring to the disruptions to fuel supplies.
Álvaro Massingue noted that fuel is not easily substitutable, despite efforts to convert vehicles to run on compressed natural gas.
“Therefore, we are in a period of high tension until hostilities end, so that fuel can once again be supplied regularly,” he said.
He made the comments at a time when there have been some disruptions to fuel supplies in Mozambique since last week.
Lusa observed during a tour of Maputo a shortage of petrol at petrol stations, a situation also reported by the media in various parts of the country.
On Friday, at least five people died following the explosion of a container holding fuel stored in a house in Mocuba, in the province of Zambezia, central Mozambique. Reportedly, the fuel was intended for informal sale due to a shortage in the region.
Mozambique is, however, seeing some relief after weeks marked by shortages of petrol and diesel, queues of dozens of cars, and the police Rapid Intervention Unit stationed at petrol stations that were able to supply petrol or diesel to ensure safety amongst the hundreds of people gathering there, including motorcyclists and consumers carrying jerry cans.
The price of diesel in Mozambique rose by 45.5% on 7 May and that of petrol by 12.1%, with the government justifying the fuel price increase on the basis of international market prices.
LN/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
