Leïla Benali discusses fuel prices, GMT+1, and energy policy

Leïla Benali, the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, discussed key national energy issues on the program "Maa Ramdani" on 2M. She addressed the controversy surrounding the time change, rising fuel prices, the future of Samir, and the impact of Middle East tensions on the Kingdom's supplies. Regarding the time change, Benali acknowledged that her department's evaluation focused only on energy consumption, measuring its impact on electricity use. She stated that a broader evaluation of its impact on citizens' daily lives is needed, with a decision to be made by competent institutions like the government or Parliament. She defended the measure's principle, citing its potential to reduce electricity demand in some cases. On fuel prices, Benali attributed current increases primarily to the 2015 liberalization, which she described as a "deliberate choice evaluated before Parliament." However, she admitted it lacked necessary safeguards. She identified two major shortcomings: the absence of a regulatory framework for gradual price variation transmission to the local market and an unsuitable tax policy. She highlighted the inconsistency of a 20% VAT on solar equipment versus 10% on fossil fuels, which contradicts energy transition goals. The Competition Council's report noted that national price increases were partially lower than international variations, suggesting oil companies did not fully pass on increases to consumers. To mitigate the impact on househol