The Minister of Economy and Finance, Gareth Guadalupe, explained that the fuel supply interruption, which began on Thursday, is due to the difficulty in obtaining sufficient funds to carry out necessary imports.
In a press conference, the minister justified the situation, stating that the necessary amount for the import has finally been obtained at this time and predicted that gasoline could arrive in the country within a week.
Guadalupe emphasized that the Government has been subsidizing prices since the beginning of the international market crisis to prevent costs from increasing for the population, but warned that this measure cannot be sustained indefinitely.
He declared that if international prices remain high, it will be inevitable to transfer part of this cost increase to citizens at some point.
The Minister of Finance expressed hope in a photovoltaic plant project, whose completion is expected by the end of the year, with capacity to generate approximately 11 megawatts of energy. This initiative aims to reduce both the quantity and the cost of imported fuel.
Additionally, the government admitted that the executive branch has faced financial problems related to paying salaries for other commitments. He clarified to the public that the delays are not due to a lack of state will, but rather due to insufficient resources.
Guadalupe detailed that linking the purchase of larger volumes of fuel to the payment of vacation subsidies, along with a salary adjustment for all public administration, generates large burdens for the State. The situation is aggravated by the need to finance unavoidable commitments, such as municipal and regional legislative elections.
Sao Tome and Principe held elections on September 27, and the Constitutional Court (TC) recently confirmed the victory of the Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe (MLSTP), the opposition, which obtained 24 of the 55 elected deputies.