Zimbabwe planning to scrap fuel subsidy

Zimbabwe’s central bank plans to stop providing the foreign currency needed for fuel imports, handing the responsibility to private companies, people familiar with the situation said.

The plan, which will end an effective subsidy, will take place as early as June 23 when a currency peg is removed and an auction system for foreign exchange is set to begin, the people said, asking not to be identified because a public announcement hasn’t been made.

The move is an attempt to save the government $100 million of foreign exchange.

The country has been beset by persistent fuel shortages as the central bank doesn’t have the money to pay for adequate imports.

The central bank currently provides letters of credit each month to fuel-importing companies.

The letters of credit had been issued at a fixed exchange rate of 25 Zimbabwe dollars per US dollar, compared with a black market rate that’s almost four times that.

John Mangudya, the central bank governor, didn’t answer calls seeking comment.

“The Finance ministry is looking at the exchange rate and they are best placed to comment on the fuel subsidy issue,” Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi said.

George Guvamatanga, the Secretary for Finance, didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.

The southern African nation requires 1.4 million liters of petrol and 2.5 million liters of diesel daily, according to the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority.

Earlier this month, the central bank also cancelled a gold-subsidy programme, flagged by the International Monetary Fund as contributing to excessive money supply which had weakened the Zimbabwean dollar.- Bloomberg

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