Madagascar gov't alerted by rising pump price

ANTANANARIVO, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Madagascan government was alerted by the recent increase of pump price in the Indian Ocean island country, calling an urgent meeting between government officials and leaders of oil companies.

According to the data from Madagascar's office of hydrocarbons, the price at the pump of the diesel has gone up from 2.680 ariary to 2.730 ariary per litre since Monday afternoon. The litre of the gasoline has risen from 3240 ariary to 3340 ariary (one U. S. dollar equals 2,000 ariary).

However, a statement from the prime minister said on Tuesday the French oil company, Total Madagascar, which increased its pump price on Monday, "agreed to temporarily suspend its tariff increase until a meeting scheduled to be held at the end of the week between oil companies' leaders and government officials."

In a telephone interview with Xinhua, a government official who attended the meeting on Monday said Total did not clearly mentioned whether or not it will decrease its price.

Oil company owners complained about a cumulative shortfall of 100 billion ariary (about 50 million dollar) since January. Enditem

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