HIBAPRESS – Ahmed Al-Musaed
With the approach of Eid al-Adha, and at a time when Moroccans are awaiting an atmosphere of joy and celebration, the crisis of high coal (premium) prices is rearing its head to burden Moroccan families. This time, the warning came not only from official reports, but from the heart of the "profession" and on the tongues of professionals who have spent decades among piles of coal.
Azzizi Al-Tehami, a coal seller with more than 42 years of experience in the profession, recounts with great bitterness how coal has turned from a simple product available to everyone into a "commodity for speculation." He confirms that the price per kilogram, which previously ranged between 5 and 6 dirhams, has jumped dramatically to reach 15 dirhams in some areas, and even exceeded 20 dirhams in other cities, which he described as a "catastrophic situation" for the average citizen.
He adds sarcastically, filled with pain: "The price of a kilogram of coal has become comparable to the price of a kilogram of avocado, so how can the poor face these costs?"
In diagnosing the reasons for this sharp rise, Al-Tehami did not attribute the matter to a shortage of raw materials, but rather directed a direct accusation at those he called "money owners" and speculators. According to his testimony, coal is available in abundance, especially "Khénifra coal" known for its quality (Atlas), but there are systematic "monopoly and storage" operations.
Al-Tehami says, "Coal exists, and there are trucks loaded and intentionally stored (blocked) to starve the market and control prices. These people trade in our pain and exploit the occasion of the holiday to accumulate profits at the expense of the poor."
This exorbitant price increase has naturally led to a decline in demand; as citizens are satisfied with buying very small quantities that do not exceed 5 kilograms, while in the past they used to buy "khnashi" (large bags). Professionals express their fear of the price reaching record levels (30 dirhams or more) in the absence of strict control over warehouses and points of sale.
The cry of Azzizi Al-Tehami sums up the situation of a wide segment of craftsmen and consumers who find themselves face to face with the greed of speculators. It is a clear call for the relevant authorities to scrutinize supply chains, and monitor warehouses in production areas, to ensure that this vital material reaches the citizen at a fair price that takes into account their already exhausted purchasing power.
"May God take revenge… this is all we can say in the face of this ugly exploitation" were the concluding words with which Al-Tehami summarized the scene of the coal market this year.
