Bhadain Lays Out Plan to Cut Mauritius Petrol Price to Rs 67.30

Opposition politician and lawyer Roshi Bhadain has put forward a series of proposals aimed at bringing the retail price of petrol in Mauritius down to Rs 67.30 per litre — a significant reduction from the current pump price of Rs 77.70. Bhadain, leader of the Reform Party (Parti Réformiste), has been one of the most vocal critics of fuel pricing in Mauritius. His latest proposals come amid growing public frustration over the cost of living and, in particular, fuel prices that have risen sharply in recent years. **Where prices stand now** Mauritius currently charges Rs 77.70 per litre for petrol at the pump. Fuel prices in the country are not set by market forces alone — they are reviewed and approved by the State Trading Corporation (STC), the government body responsible for importing petroleum products, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance. The price consumers pay includes taxes, levies, and a contribution to the Road Development Authority (RDA) fund, among other charges. Critics, including Bhadain, have long argued that these additional levies inflate the pump price well beyond what the underlying cost of imported fuel would justify. **What Bhadain is proposing** While the original report does not detail every measure in full, Bhadain's proposals are understood to target the tax and levy components built into the final pump price. His argument is that by stripping out or reducing certain government charges embedded in the fuel price formula, the retail price could be brought down to Rs 67.30 — a cut of more than Rs 10 per litre. This is not the first time Bhadain has raised the issue. During the 2024 general election campaign, several political parties — including the alliance that went on to form the current government — pledged to reduce fuel prices. Critics note that prices have instead risen since the election. **Why it matters** Fuel prices affect virtually every household and business in Mauritius. Higher petrol costs feed through to transport fares, food prices, and the cost of goods generally. For a small island economy that imports nearly all of its fuel, the pricing formula used by the STC has an outsized impact on inflation and household budgets. **What this means** Bhadain's proposals are, at this stage, opposition pressure rather than government policy. There is no indication the current administration intends to adopt them. However, with fuel costs remaining a politically sensitive issue, the proposals add to the public debate about how Mauritius structures its fuel taxation — and whether consumers are paying more than they should. Source: Le Defi Media