ANTANANARIVO, July 18 (Xinhua) -- The Malagasy government has adopted a decree reinstating a nationwide state of energy emergency due to renewed tensions in the Middle East, which continue to fuel uncertainty in the global oil market, according to a communique released by the Prime Minister's Office on Friday evening.
The communique said that the exceptional measure is intended to enable the country to take the necessary steps to secure fuel supplies, ensure the continuity of essential services, and mitigate the impact that a potential rise in petroleum product prices could have on the national economy.
The Malagasy government first declared a state of energy emergency on April 7 in response to the oil shock triggered by the conflict in the Middle East, before restoring the automatic fuel price adjustment mechanism at the pump in early July.
Madagascar's supply of refined petroleum products depends heavily on imports, particularly from Oman. ■