The deficit in foreign currency, especially the dollar, is jeopardizing fuel imports into the country, a scenario that is showing up in shortages at some of the country's petrol stations.

The information was provided by Hélder Chambisse, Chairman of the Board of Directors (PCA) of Petróleos de Moçambique, Petromoc, in an interview with STV's "Noite Informativa".

"The fuel distribution market has various nuances, various factors that contribute to the dynamics of how companies operate. For example, like other importers, we also face the challenge of the availability of foreign currencies," he said during the interview.

Chambisse said that the shortage goes beyond normal management limits and jeopardizes imports.

"What we've noticed over the last few months, or the last two years, is that this challenge has started to become a little higher. The challenge has increased, and the sequence, the speed of issuing bank guarantees to the banks, and then the payments, has started to become a little longer, and then creating challenges to meet the contractual requirements with the supplier," he said in response to questions put to him.

"Delays in issuing bank guarantees mean that the product is unloaded, but it remains on financial hold and can't be used. Delays in payment then lead to the supplier also having a hold," he added.

In terms of market supply capacity, the law stipulates that the country must have at least 45 days of stock to guarantee management in emergencies, which Petroc assures us is always taken care of.

In terms of market supply capacity, the law stipulates that the country must have at least 45 days of stock to guarantee management in emergencies, which Petroc assures us is always taken care of.

"As far as storage capacity is concerned, we have enough capacity, not only for domestic consumption, but also to use the advantage of being a coastal country and, through producers, also feed the countries of the interland," said Cambises.

The source assured, however, that everything is being done to ensure that there is never a stock break.

"We are satisfied with the capacity we have, in Maputo, for example, we are now in the final phase of a 160,000 cubic meter operation, which is enough capacity for our operation and also for the interland server.

In Beira, where there are the largest number of operators, our capacity is sufficient, but our competitors, our co-agents also have sufficient capacity for internal consumption. Where there may be a deficit is in Nacala, but this city essentially serves internal consumption, from the central area and then from the north, in terms of corridors," he explained.

Petromoc also believes there is a need to increase distribution points, to prevent scenarios such as those seen in Palma, Cabo Delgado.

"We have four unloading ports, and then we have intermediate depots, which is precisely to allow for better logistics in the distribution of fuel," he said. "There is a need for additional points, which there certainly will be, in order to reduce the use of road travel for distribution," he pointed out. (....) But I agree that there is a need to increase the intermediate tanks, without a doubt," he said.