The prices of petroleum products in Mozambique will now be reviewed monthly and their retail price adjusted and communicated to distributors on Thursdays of the third week of the month, in compliance with Decree 89/2019 of November 18.

Thus, any change in the price of fuel on the international market should be reflected on the domestic market, when justified and in different proportions.

"Starting with the latest adjustment, we're going to strictly comply with what's set out in this provision," said the National Director of Hydrocarbons and Fuels, Moisés Paulino, quoted today by the National Press. Sunday newspaper.

The executive's measure is aimed at resolving the government's debt to petrol stations, estimated at more than 450 million dollars, although the government itself only acknowledges around 300-something million dollars in debt, according to the newspaper. Moisés Paulino said, however, that dialogue between the government and the petrol stations had made it possible to manage the situation.

"We carried out the review this May and, if we continue to make the monthly adjustments, the petrol stations will have their debt paid off month by month," he explained, anticipating paying off half the amount by the end of the year. "There's no need to use the state budget to eliminate the debt. The fixing structure itself allows this to happen."

A difference of 0.75 metical cents per liter of fuel is expected to be maintained on the domestic market if prices fall on the international market, to allow the debt to be settled.

The government will endeavor to settle the other half of the debt next year, with the condition that it adjusts fuel prices on a monthly basis, based on Article 75, Decree 89/2019, which obliges it to announce the new prices on the third Thursday of each month.