Luanda: The Provincial Government of Moxico Leste has shut down 40 fuel pumps in the border town of Luau, in a large-scale operation aimed at curbing illegal sales of fuel and reaffirming state control over a lucrative and poorly regulated sector. According to Angola Press News Agency, the local government reported that approximately 40 fuel pumps, around 70% of the total, were shut down after inspections found they were operating illegally. This illegal activity is causing growing concern among authorities due to the rapid and largely unregulated expansion of fuel suppliers in Luau, a city near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Despite the relatively small number of vehicles, the town had until recently 35 fuel stations and 67 pumps, numbers considered distorted. "This situation demands firm measures," stated the provincial governor, Crispiniano dos Santos, during a meeting with traders in the sector, highlighting the risks associated with illegal activities in a sensitive border regi on. According to authorities, the uncontrolled growth of informal sales points has fueled smuggling networks and led to fraudulent storage practices, increasing the risk of fires, environmental damage, and other dangers to public safety. These shutdown activities are part of a broader campaign to reorganize the fuel trade and bring it into line with national standards. Authorities assure that inspections will continue, with stricter enforcement of the law to ensure that only licensed operators remain in business. At the same time, the government seeks to reassure investors, stating that it intends to create conditions for more formal and responsible participation in the sector. This measure is part of a broader effort by Angolan authorities to make official the segments of the economy that have long operated outside state control, particularly in remote and border regions where oversight has historically been limited.