Taliban Issues New Directive to Purchase Fuel Only from Authorized Companies

The Taliban administration’s assigned committee to prevent the entry of low-quality fuel has announced that all fuel tanks and pump stations across the country must purchase fuel solely from specified companies with official oil and gas licenses and keep the related seller documents on record. The committee has warned that if, after inspection, low-quality fuel is found in tanks, legal action will be taken.

In a statement published on Wednesday, 29th Dalwa, importers and traders were also urged to bring in fuel and liquefied gas in accordance with ‘applicable standards and principles.’ The statement noted that in cases of violations, the responsible individuals and companies will be referred to relevant authorities following an order from Hibatullah Akhundzada.

The committee further emphasized that market monitoring will continue consistently and the established criteria will be enforced nationwide. However, no additional details were provided regarding the methods of supervision or how fuel quality inspections will be conducted.

Since regaining control of Afghanistan, the Taliban administration has imposed extensive restrictions on the import of petroleum products and liquefied gas. Some traders have previously stated that the lack of transparency in the licensing and oversight process has made imports difficult and added pressure to the market—an issue that could affect prices and public access to energy.