The Angolan Executive will create strategic stocks to ensure food, energy, medicine, and fertilizer security in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Minister of State for Economic Coordination announced today.
These mitigation measures were decided during the first extraordinary meeting of the Economic Commission of the Council of Ministers, according to Minister José de Lima Massano, who spoke to the press following the session. He explained that the government will establish strategic reserves for food and energy, while also reinforcing the storage of medicines and consumable hospital equipment, particularly items derived from oil, such as syringes and other plastic-based medical tools.
The minister emphasized that beyond the products themselves, the concern lies in the logistical chain, which is expected to face increased difficulties.
José de Lima Massano noted that current restrictions on vessel movement are already causing changes in the transportation of refined products and global logistics chains.
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The government is particularly concerned about fertilizers, as this will have a collective impact on Angola’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its food security. The minister highlighted that fertilizer prices have risen by more than 50%, with fears that this trend will persist, potentially leading to a scenario where international market supply fails to meet demand.
Furthermore, the import of goods is becoming significantly more expensive, with insurance costs for transporting goods in some cases jumping by over 200%.
These rising costs are inevitably being transferred to the final products, a situation that extends beyond food to other imported equipment and raw materials.
In the domain of energy security, the situation presents a scenario of increased concern. The price of refined products is rising due to the cost of a barrel of crude oil, and some refineries are already conditioning their exports of refined products, posing a significant challenge for nations including Angola.
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The minister stressed that despite being an oil-producing country, Angola remains heavily dependent on imports of refined products, creating a vulnerable situation.
To address this, the country will anticipate the import of chemicals for human water treatment and, in line with the 2026 General State Budget, plans to secure fertilizer imports for the 2026/2027 agricultural campaign ahead of schedule. When referring to fertilizers, the government includes seeds, manure, and other agricultural inputs to avoid excessive exposure to external vulnerabilities.
Regarding fuel supplies, the Angolan government plans to build reserves for a minimum of 90 days, utilizing the storage capacity of the Barra do Dande Oceanic Terminal. José de Lima Massano also reaffirmed the authorities’ commitment to improving the business environment to attract more investment.
He specifically highlighted the tourism sector, which, while negatively impacted by the Middle East conflict, presents new opportunities for Angola.
According to the minister, data suggests the conflict could have a negative impact of approximately 50 billion dollars on investments and tourism in that region, creating a window for Angola to attract some of those resources and initiatives to develop within the country.
