Luanda, April 23, 2026 (Lusa) – The Angolan government is to build up stockpiles to ensure food, energy, medicine and fertiliser security in light of the conflict in the Middle East, the Minister of State for Economic Coordination has announced.
The Economic Commission of the Council of Ministers decided on these mitigation measures during its first extraordinary meeting, José de Lima Massano told the press after the session on Wednesday.
According to the minister, the government will establish food and energy security stockpiles. It will also bolster the storage of medicines and disposable hospital equipment, particularly petroleum-derived items such as syringes and various plastic-based products.
"We are focusing on medicines themselves because the current logistical chain disruptions will bring additional difficulties," he said. He said that current restrictions on vessel movements are already altering the transport of refined products and supply chains.
"We have significant concerns regarding fertilisers, as this will collectively impact Angola's ongoing efforts to strengthen its food security," he said. He said that fertiliser prices have risen by over 50%, a trend that may continue, potentially leading to shortages in international markets.
"Importing goods will also become more expensive because transport costs, and as we are already seeing with insurance, have risen sharply, in some cases, insurance for the transport of goods has risen by over 200%, which is extremely high, and these costs are passed on to the goods being transported," Massano said.
This situation extends beyond food imports to other imported goods, equipment, and raw materials.
"In the field of energy security, we face a scenario of increased concern because refined product prices are rising due to crude oil prices. Some refineries are restricting the export of refined products. This poses an additional challenge for countries, including Angola" he said. He said that, despite being an oil producer, Angola "still depends heavily on imports of refined products and other goods, making this situation a cause for concern."
The country will bring forward the import of chemicals for treating drinking water. Within the framework of the 2026 state budget, the government plans to advance fertiliser imports for the 2026/2027 agricultural season.
"When we mention fertilisers, we include seeds, fertilisers, and other pesticides, to avoid being overly exposed to external vulnerabilities," he said. Regarding fuel, the government expects to maintain reserves for at least 90 days, utilising the capacity of the Barra do Dande Ocean Terminal.
Massano expressed the Angolan authorities' commitment to "continuously improving the business environment to attract more investment." He highlighted the tourism sector, saying that while the Middle East conflict affects that region, it creates opportunities for Angola.
"Available data suggests that the conflict in the Middle East could have a negative impact of around US$50 billion on that region's investment and tourism. Our current developments create opportunities for some of those resources to find a space for growth in Angola," he said.
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