Mali Government and Oil Operators Move to Resolve Fuel Supply BottlenecksBamako - November 20-21, 2025

As part of ongoing efforts to stabilize fuel distribution, the sixth weekly meeting with petroleum operators was held on November 20, 2025, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Industry and Culture, in the presence of the Director General in charge of Commerce, the Director of CECOGEC, and the Deputy Director General of the Petroleum Department.

The meeting focused on weekly monitoring of fuel supply measures and the evaluation of proposed solutions to address persistent logistical challenges. The Minister reported that after more than a month of stringent monitoring, a key indicator confirms a gradual normalization of the fuel supply: all but one tanker truck have successfully delivered fuel, indicating that petroleum is now entering the country regularly, with sufficient volumes available.

Despite this technical normalization, lines at gas stations remain long, highlighting an administrative bottleneck that slows operations and limits efficient distribution.

To address this, the government announced the upcoming conclusion of a memorandum of understanding with major oil companies, aimed at accelerating fuel supply management. The agreement will reduce processing times at the petroleum customs service from 72 hours to 24 hours, ensuring that fuel reaches consumers more quickly.

Officials emphasized that this structural reform will alleviate congestion at service stations, maintain a continuous supply via tanker trucks, and guarantee that all available fuel reaches users without delay. The memorandum of understanding is scheduled for signing on Friday, November 21, 2025, marking a decisive step in stabilizing Mali’s fuel distribution system amid ongoing security and logistical challenges.