Amutse defends Vitol deal, rejects monopoly claims
The government has mounted another strong defence of the controversial decision to appoint global energy trader Vitol as the country’s exclusive fuel supplier, insisting that the arrangement has stabilised national fuel supplies, protected consumers from exorbitant price shocks and required no public funding. The defence came from Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Modestus Amutse,... The post Amutse defends Vitol deal, rejects monopoly claims appeared first on New Era .
The government has mounted another strong defence of the controversial decision to appoint global energy trader Vitol as the country’s exclusive fuel supplier, insisting that the arrangement has stabilised national fuel supplies, protected consumers from exorbitant price shocks and required no public funding.
The defence came from Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Modestus Amutse, on Friday as he announced the latest fuel price review, as the official opposition, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), intensified calls for a parliamentary investigation into the multi-billion-dollar agreement.
The renewed defence comes as the MIME announced a N$2 per litre increase in petrol and diesel prices, to be effected tomorrow, 5 August.
Amutse said the latest fuel adjustment emanated not from the Vitol agreement itself but from the reinstatement of fuel levies that had been temporarily reduced since April to cushion motorists during the Middle East conflict.
On Friday, Amutse sought to reassure the country that Namibia’s fuel supply remains secure despite continued geopolitical tensions.
