The fuel import bill for the Mozambican market has already absorbed 368 million dollars, and the Bank of Mozambique (BM) has paid another half of that amount, or 201 million dollars, corresponding to 54%, leaving the remainder in the responsibility of the commercial banks.

According to the newspaper "Notícias" this is only the figure for the first five months of the year, from January to May.

The figure disbursed by the Central Bank can be interpreted as a sign that the commercial banks have gained some financial robustness in recent years, bearing in mind that in the past the Bank of Mozambique's contribution was well above current levels, according to Emílio Rungo, a senior staff member of the WB.

"Lately the banks have been ensuring that the bill is paid. Last year, in the same period - January to May the fuel bill was 240 million dollars. Of this amount, 126 million was the Bank of Mozambique's contribution," he said.

The Central Bank's action on fuel imports is aimed at ensuring that fuel is available in the market.

During a meeting held with journalists, Rungo highlighted the balance of payments in the country in 2021 and the first quarter of 2022, pointing out that there is an improvement in the current account, although it remains deficitory.

The improvement stems from the reduction in the current account défice in 2021 relative to 2020 by $255 million, caused by the combination of imports and exports, in a scenario where foreign direct investment increased by $2 billion.