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Fuel stations in Morocco boycott minister Benali and threaten national strike
Casablanca – Tensions are rising between the Ministry of Energy Transition and the Federation of fuel station owners in Morocco. The National Federation of Owners, Traders, and Managers of Service Stations (FGNPS) announced it would boycott a meeting called by Minister Leila Benali, scheduled for September 26, citing frustration over what it describes as “administrative deafness” and government inaction.
According to the Federation, the meeting’s agenda on the marking of petroleum products ignores more urgent structural issues. Among their main demands are stricter regulation of illegal fuel sales outside official stations, better oversight of oil companies’ practices toward franchise operators, and action against a growing “black market” that operates with little control or safety standards.
Industry representatives warn that clandestine storage depots, mobile sales points, and opaque distribution networks pose risks not only to fair competition but also to public safety. Economically, the Federation denounces unfair pricing practices that squeeze the margins of small operators, while oversaturation of stations across the country threatens widespread closures.
The Federation has warned that if its demands continue to be ignored, it will escalate its protest. Possible actions include a nationwide demonstration in Rabat and, more significantly, a general strike by service stations, which could disrupt fuel supply across Morocco.
This standoff underscores the political sensitivity of fuel sector regulation in Morocco, where fluctuating pump prices and limited competition have already sparked public criticism. Whether the government seeks dialogue or confrontation will determine if the crisis escalates into a national disruption.
