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Press reports indicate a desire by the multinational to sell its activities in the Central African Republic, due to the fuel crisis and the business climate. The French group does not confirm this information. But, the last importer of petroleum products in the Central African Republic, he wonders about his priorities.
More than half of the Total stations in the Central African Republic are now shut down due to lack of fuel. Only those in Bangui work, and again, in turn, depending on available stocks, which generates endless queues of disgruntled motorists, transporters and motorcycle taxis.
Last importer of fuels of the country, Total limits its purchases, because the sale is made at a loss for months. The regulated price of a liter of gasoline is 865 francs at the pump, but it costs the supplier 30 to 40% more.
The state, which subsidizes the difference, has not settled the slate. Its debt is now in millions of euros. While organizations close to the authorities, and even some members of the government, accuse the company ” to organize the shortage ».
The Central African Republic is a drop of water in the global turnover of TotalEnergies, “ the equivalent of a French motorway station confides a group executive. Economically, a departure would therefore be painless.
Like all multinationals, the company regularly reviews its portfolio, which has led it, for example, to sell its assets in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Niger over the past two years.
Still, to sell, you have to find a buyer: “ given the business climate, the hassle and the cost of transport, they will not rush “says a connoisseur of the sector.