Chats off to Leila Benali. The Minister for Energy Transition and Sustainable Development has been particularly… energetic lately. She multiplies the outings, confronting both parliamentarians and journalists.
In these times when political speech is almost sacred, sacrificed on the altar of a government formula that voters will not soon forget – the Executive’s philosophy is to “work more and talk less” – it is she who goes to coal.
On her two outings, she will have been very eloquent, making important revelations regarding the current situation of the energy sector in Morocco. This communication exercise was very important for two reasons:
• First: It was absolutely necessary for the government to enlighten Moroccans and express itself on this crucial subject which is “the security stock of petroleum products”, especially at this time when the global geopolitical situation is quite troubled and is impacting the Kingdom.
Paradoxically, the exit of Benali, which is following all normal and natural for a minister in office managing, moreover, a strategic department particularly heckled by the international situation, seems almost exceptional.
Because, let us remember, this Executive took in its suitcases a new form of governance: walling in silence and widening the distance with the citizens; who, in this delicate economic context, nevertheless need answers and reassurance.
Even if this posture is almost a form of contempt, this government is stubborn, resolutely determined to keep this line of conduct, forgetting however that it must be at the service of the community.
• Second: Benali went there free. Without waffle. Providing precise information on the current state of strategic stocks of petroleum products.
Stock alert!
Let us now come to the figures revealed by the minister. Which refer to a crucial question: should we be worried?
First, there is an observation to be made: the law in force is not respected at all. It sets a minimum safety stock of 60 days for petroleum products, which has not been the case for the past 20 years. Here is the stock status as of April 11:
Gasoil : 26 daysor 437,000 tons.
Gas butane: 26 daysor 191,000 tons.
Essence : 43 daysor 83,000 tons.
Kerosene: 34 daysor 36,000 tons.
Fuel oil: 83 days, or 233,000 tons. Only fuel oil exceeds the regulatory threshold set.
However, Morocco, with a storage capacity of petroleum products available to distributors of 1.3 million tonnes approximately, still enjoys room for maneuver to reinforce its strategic stocks. And this, all the more so as the current capacities make it possible to have reserves of 57 days (vs. 26 at the moment) for diesel, 41 (vs 26) for butane gas, 75 (vs 43) for gasoline, and 80 days (vs. 34) for kerosene.
So, back to our question. Should we be worried? Yes, if we know that in the immediate future, and because of the consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the constitution of stocks comes up once morest the high level of the prices of energy products.
Therefore, liquid petroleum product distribution companies ensure that the stock of diesel is renewed on a daily basis, said government spokesman Mustapha Baitas.
“Companies proceed to purchase operations without waiting for the total exhaustion of the stock”, he adds.
In the medium term, the option chosen is to increase storage capacity for petroleum products by 550,000 tonnes, to bring it to 1.8 million tonnes by 2023. Investment cost: almost 2 billion dirhams.
Beyond diagnosis
We appreciate the clarity and transparency shown by Leila Benali. Who also issued several ideas, including the need to secure the country’s supply of all energy products, guarantee access to sustainable energy at competitive prices, develop the electricity network and improve energy efficiency.
But the Moroccans remained unsatisfied. They expected her to go beyond the formal diagnosis.
Admittedly, it is planned to strengthen the storage capacity of petroleum products by 2023, except that nothing is planned immediately to support the purchasing power of citizens, especially in the face of soaring prices at the pump.
And it is on this subject that we are still awaiting the Executive. Which, in barely veiled terms, almost boasts of maintaining the subsidy of butane gas, sugar and flour in this exceptional situation.
From the head of government to the budget minister, via the government spokesperson, everyone comes out with the same rhetoric, emphasizing, in passing, the increase in the expenses of the Compensation Fund.
Even Benali stuck to it. “During the current month, a 12 kg bottle of butane gas is subsidized at approximately 116 dirhams (the real price for a 12 kg bottle is 156 dirhams) and regarding 30 dirhams for a 3 kg bottle (the real price for a 3 kg bottle is 40 dirhams)”, she specifies.
A way of telling us surreptitiously that the government is already doing enough. Even to make those who claim to want more (sic!) feel guilty.
F. Ouriaghli
