Morocco says it has sufficient fuel for weeks amid crisis

Morocco has diesel stocks covering 51 days and petrol stocks for 55 days, according to the country’s energy ministry, Reuters reported on 2 April.

Coal and gas supplies are secured until the end of June, the ministry added, as the war in the Middle East continues to push up energy prices.

Morocco relies entirely on imported oil after its only refinery shut down in 2015. It also imports most of its gas from Spain via a pipeline that previously carried Algerian fuel. The ministry said sourcing fuel from multiple countries, including in Europe and the United States, has helped limit the impact of the disruption. Energy imports fell by 5% to $11.5 billion in 2025, before the recent rise in global prices.

Fuel prices have risen by about 30% since US and Israeli strikes on Iran at the end of February increased regional tensions. The government has reintroduced subsidies for professional transport operators, including taxis, buses and HGVs, to limit the rise in costs, also reported by Africanews.

Moroccan officials have warned that higher energy prices could push up inflation. The 2026 budget is based on an oil price assumption of $60 per barrel, well below current levels of around $108, while the central bank said Morocco could draw on a $4.5 billion IMF credit line if prices rise above $120 per barrel.

The impact of the conflict has been felt across Africa, with several countries raising fuel prices or introducing measures to manage rising energy costs.

Egypt increased fuel prices by up to 30% and introduced energy-saving measures, while Sahel states have also raised fuel costs. In Mali, authorities have faced a fuel shortage, with companies accused of exploiting the situation to increase prices. Nigeria’s Dangote refinery has also begun exporting fuel as regional demand rises.

Reuters, Africanews, Maghrebi.org