Government Rejects Fuel Subsidy Amid Rising Pump Prices, Cites Alternative Measures

Speaking at the opening session of the RNI regional conference in the Beni Mellal-Khenifra region, Mustapha Baitas addressed several topical issues related to purchasing power.

Regarding the fuel subsidy, one of the main demands of the transporters, who say they are suffocated by the surge in prices at the pump, the minister stressed that unlike 2014, the government has opted for other measures that can mitigate the impact of the rise in fuel prices on citizens.

Professionals have benefited from a direct aid of around 2.2 billion DH, he cited as an example, explaining: "... It is easy to resort to a subsidy solution, but we did not do it, as happened in 2014, when 15 billion DH were canceled from the investment budget, which caused the stoppage of a number of structuring projects."

And he added: "The method of calculating the price of fuel on the international market is clear, and since Morocco imports it, there are additional expenses related to transport and value added tax."