The government is drafting a new policy framework to allow greater private-sector involvement in the import, storage, transportation, distribution and marketing of refined petroleum products.
However, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) has stressed that the proposed rules are not intended to provide preferential treatment to any individual, company or group.
In a statement issued on Saturday by EMRD, deputy chief information officer, Mohammad Arif Sadek, said the draft policy was being developed primarily to strengthen the country’s energy security and ensure an uninterrupted supply of fuel.
The proposed Policy on the Import, Storage, Transportation, Distribution and Marketing of Refined Fuel by the Private Sector, 2026 would also seek to establish a more transparent and competitive market.
According to the statement, the private sector’s infrastructure and investment capacity could be used alongside existing government arrangements, particularly during emergencies or periods of fuel shortages.
The Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) said the policy had not yet been finalised. Views and recommendations from stakeholders across the energy sector would be considered before a final decision was taken.
It said any decision to introduce such a framework would depend on whether it could safeguard the public interest and energy security while ensuring market competition, transparency and accountability.
The ministry’s clarification comes amid speculation surrounding the proposed policy. It said some media outlets and social media platforms had recently circulated information based on assumptions that was inaccurate or misleading.
The division urged all concerned parties to act responsibly while the policy remains under consideration.