Moroccan union leader calls for fuel price deregulation reversal

Hussein El Yamani, Secretary General of the National Union of Petroleum and Gas and head of the National Front to Save the Moroccan Petroleum Refinery, is calling for a reversal of the decision to liberalize fuel prices in Morocco. He argues that reorganizing the market would protect consumer purchasing power and stabilize the sector amidst global tensions, including the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East, which impact global oil and gas supplies.

El Yamani criticized the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) for perceived contradictions between its electoral promises and its current management of the energy sector. He specifically questioned the party's pledge to secure a three-month national fuel reserve using SAMIR refinery tanks, noting that the party is currently part of the government responsible for energy transition and management.

Furthermore, El Yamani urged the reactivation of the SAMIR refinery to allow Morocco to benefit from refining margins and reduce its energy dependency, which remains above 90 percent. He also proposed a flexible tax system for fuel that reacts inversely to price fluctuations to mitigate the impact of rising costs on Moroccan households and transportation.