Madagascar Declares Two-Week Nationwide State Of Energy Emergency Amid Severe Fuel Shortages

Madagascar has declared a two-week nationwide state of energy emergency amid severe fuel shortages caused by the US and Israel’s war in Iran, BBC has reported.

The presidency stated that the decision was made following Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, amid concerns that the situation could lead to public disorder.

The Indian Ocean island, which relies heavily on oil to produce much of its electricity, is dependent on fuel imports from the Middle East. Supplies are likely to be disrupted for some time despite the two-week ceasefire announced overnight.

Last year, persistent power and water shortages in Madagascar led to youth-led protests, which escalated into broader political unrest and resulted in a military takeover.

It is unclear exactly what measures the government intends to implement, but it has stated that it now has the authority to stabilize the country’s power sector, mitigate further disruptions, manage consumption, and ensure the continuity of public services.

So far, fuel prices have not increased since the crisis began, though shortages have been reported, with drivers queuing for hours.

News of the state of emergency led to panic buying at some petrol stations on Wednesday, with some stations reportedly rationing how much each customer can buy, according to local media.

Most of Madagascar’s oil comes from Oman, south of the Strait of Hormuz — the key global energy shipping route that has been disrupted by the war that began on February 28.

Nonetheless, the price of oil remains considerably higher than before the conflict, and analysts say it could take months or even years to repair the damage done to supply capacity in the region.

Madagascar is among several African countries taking urgent action to stem the effects of these disruptions. Some have resorted to raising or subsidizing fuel prices and rationing electricity.

The Gambia has just ordered the immediate suspension of all non-essential official travel by government officials, days after Senegal implemented a similar move.

Zambia recently suspended taxes on petrol and diesel imports, while Botswana scrapped fuel levies for six months to cushion consumers from price rises.