Sudanese states reduce fuel and cooking gas prices

August 11, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Several Sudanese states announced reductions in the prices of petroleum products and cooking gas on Tuesday, offering relief to consumers as the central bank stepped in to provide foreign currency for fuel imports.

Sudan has faced severe, recurring energy crises that were deepened by war damage to oil infrastructure, including the shutdown of the main al-Jaili refinery, which previously supplied about 70 per cent of local consumption.

Khartoum State Governor Ahmed Osman Hamza approved a price reduction, cutting the cost of a 12.5-kilogram cooking gas cylinder to 85,000 Sudanese pounds from 106,400 pounds. Gas for bakeries was reduced to 3,742 pounds per litre, while diesel prices saw a slight decrease to 8,518 pounds per litre.

Price cuts were also declared in other regions. Red Sea state reduced the retail price of a cooking gas cylinder to between 70,000 and 75,000 pounds, down from 105,000 pounds, while River Nile state lowered the price of a gas cylinder to 80,000 pounds from 104,000 pounds and cut diesel prices by 750 pounds.

River Nile State Economic Affairs Director Abubakar told the official SUNA news agency that the price declines resulted from recent import policies, including the Bank of Sudan supplying foreign exchange directly to public and private importing companies.

He explained that importing firms previously bought foreign currency on the parallel market, driving up import costs, but recent central bank backing and lower global gas prices allowed energy ministry officials to recalculate costs and lower end-user prices.

In June, the Sudanese government moved to directly manage petroleum imports to curb currency depreciation and stop private firms from driving up black-market forex demand. The central bank also required fuel importers to deposit 200 kilograms of 21-karat gold to secure import permits as part of efforts to regulate trade and ease pressure on foreign currency reserves.