Morocco’s government raises butane gas price

RABAT - The price of butane gas in Morocco will increase from Monday following the government's decision to partially decompensate the subsidy granted to this product.

This measure is said to aim to rationalize public spending and finance the direct social assistance program, intended for the most deprived households.

Concretely, the 3 kg butane gas cylinder will now cost 12.5 dirhams, compared to 10 dirhams previously, an increase of 25%. The 12 kg bottle, for its part, will see its price increase by 10 dirhams, from 40 to 50 dirhams.

This increase is part of the reform of the social protection system, initiated by the Moroccan government.

The objective is to better target social assistance and make it more efficient. The direct social assistance program, which has already benefited 3.6 million households, is a concrete example.

The government assures that this measure will not have a significant impact on the purchasing power of households, because it will be offset by other social measures, such as the increase in wages in the public and private sectors, the generalization of medical coverage and direct housing support.

The government reaffirmed its commitment to continuing the reform of the social protection system, with a view to better social inclusion and a reduction in inequalities as an envelope of 80 billion dirhams has been earmarked for this purpose by 2026.