NOUAKCHOTT, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The Mauritanian government has announced a ban on the use of state-owned four-wheel-drive vehicles as part of a set of measures aimed at cutting energy consumption amid sharp price volatility linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
The measure does not apply to vehicles used by the armed and security forces, ambulances or other health-service vehicles, Minister of Economic Affairs and Development Abdallah Ould Souleymane Ould Cheikh-Sidia told a press conference late Monday.
The use of government-owned light-duty vehicles will also be strictly limited to only meeting the essential needs of public administration, he said.
At the same press event, Minister of Energy and Petroleum Mohamed Ould Mohamed Malainine Ould Khaled warned against any speculation in fuel prices, saying sanctions would be imposed on service stations found in violation.
Government spokesman Houssein Ould Medou said about 550 tonnes of fuel were seized in recent weeks and exports to certain neighboring countries had been suspended as a preventive measure.
The government has also moved to strengthen its strategic stocks of energy and food products to secure supplies. ■
