Sudan denies fuel shortage as supply fears trigger queues

March 11, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s energy ministry on Wednesday denied there was a fuel supply crisis and urged citizens to stop panic buying at filling stations following reports of severe congestion in the capital and several states.

The ministry issued a statement to clarify remarks by Energy Minister Al-Muatasim Ibrahim, which it said had been misinterpreted by some media outlets. The clarification comes as River Nile State began implementing price hikes for petroleum products, fueling public anxiety over potential nationwide shortages.

“Petroleum supplies are available and are being managed according to storage capacities,” the ministry said in a statement seen by Sudan Tribune. It added that several tankers are currently at Port Sudan awaiting offloading to ensure the continuity of the supply chain.

The ministry said current gasoline stocks are sufficient to last 88 days, based on a daily consumption rate of 2,175 metric tons. This figure excludes two additional tankers currently at sea awaiting instructions to dock.

For diesel, the ministry reported warehouse stocks of 88,909 metric tons, with an additional 86,273 metric tons currently being offloaded. The total volume is expected to cover 54 days of demand at a daily consumption rate of 3,235 metric tons.

The statement also addressed cooking gas supplies, noting that 8,138 metric tons are currently available between storage and one docked tanker. However, officials noted that the scheduling of gas deliveries has been complicated by the destruction of some storage facilities in recent drone attacks on Port Sudan.

The rush to fuel stations followed a wave of social media speculation about the impact of regional tensions in the Middle East on Sudan’s energy markets and global supply chains.