Khartoum, June 16 (Darfur24)
The Central Bank of Sudan has introduced a new requirement obliging fuel import companies to deposit 200 kilograms of 21-karat gold as a guarantee before obtaining an import license, according to an official directive issued by the bank.
The decision comes as Sudan faces a worsening fuel shortage, with long queues reported at service stations across several cities.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Energy and Oil, Al-Mutasim Ibrahim Ahmed Ali, Central Bank Governor Amina Mirghani Hassan Al-Tom instructed authorities not to issue certificates of no objection to fuel importers unless they provide official confirmation from the Sudan Gold Refinery that the required gold guarantee has been deposited.
The governor said the measure is intended to enforce regulations governing the importation of petroleum products and ensure compliance by companies operating in the sector.
According to the directive, the requirement applies to all fuel import applications submitted through the government’s “Baladna” electronic platform.
The fuel crisis has intensified in recent weeks, contributing to rising transportation costs and increases in the prices of basic commodities.
Economic observers have expressed concern that the new requirement could effectively exclude small and medium-sized companies from the fuel import market due to the high financial burden involved. They warn that the measure may increase market concentration by favoring a limited number of large firms, rather than helping to alleviate the ongoing fuel shortage.