Maputo, 20 Feb (AIM) – Mozambique’s Energy Regulatory Authority (ARENE) has reduced the prices of the main liquid fuels by up to 17.7 per cent, taking effect as from Thursday.
The largest cut is for kerosene. The price of a litre of kerosene falls from 87.05 to 69.35 meticais (from 1.4 to 1.1 US dollars, at the current exchange rate).
But the most significant reduction is in the price of diesel which falls from 91.23 to 86.89 meticais a litre. Diesel is the main fuel used in agriculture, fishing and long distance transport.
The price of petrol falls by only 0.49 per cent, from 86.25 to 85.82 meticais a litre. The price of LPG cooking gas is unchanged, at 86.05 meticais a kilo.
These prices are for the main ports where fuel is unloaded. Elsewhere, distributers may add their transport costs to the final price.
An ARENE press release issued on Wednesday said that the prices could be reduced because of the variables considered when calculating prices. These included the appreciation of the US dollar used in negotiations on the Brent futures market, which had the effect of reducing demand and hence prices.
ARENE believed that the price reductions could have a significant impact on the cost of living, particularly since the price of many other goods is dependent on the price of fuel.
It pointed out that kerosene is generally used by low income households. The reduction in the price of kerosene would go some way towards restoring the purchasing power of these households.
(AIM)
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