Sudan Fuel Shortage: Costs Double for Workers and Merchants
Transport unions raised fares by up to 40% as petrol prices spiked to 40,000 pounds in some regions, forcing cleaners and traders to cut operations.
By Carolina Wood ·
Sudan's Transport Chambers Union raised intercity bus fares by 40% and minibus fares by 30% this month, a direct response to soaring fuel prices. The adjustment places immediate financial pressure on commuters and merchants across the country. The union acts as the regulatory body for both public and private transport sectors, and its decision reflects the current scarcity of petrol and diesel at the pump.
The fuel shortage stems from a combination of domestic production cuts and import restrictions. Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which began on April 15, 2023, has disrupted the energy sector. The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum valued war-related losses at $20 billion last year. Attacks on the Balila oil field have also reduced supply to the Khartoum refinery, a facility that previously met 60% of the national demand for petrol and liquefied petroleum gas.
With local output down, the country relies on imports during a period of high global fuel prices. Economic analyst Sidi Ohaj noted that government regulations have tightened the market. Importers are required to deposit 200kg of gold in the Central Bank and own fuel storage facilities. Some businesses exited the market because they could not meet these requirements. Ohaj stated that this reduced supply relative to demand and urged the government to ease import procedures urgently.
In Gazira State, south of Khartoum, a gallon of petrol costs 40,000 pounds ($4.30). In Port Sudan, the price is 35,000 pounds ($3.80). Azhari Mohamed, a 60-year-old minibus driver in Port Sudan, burns three gallons of petrol daily, a cost of approximately 105,000 pounds ($11.30). He works from 6am to 9pm, making seven round trips between the Shagar neighborhood and the city center. Due to long lines that can exceed five hours, he now works two days and waits a third. After operating costs, he retains about 50,000 pounds ($5.40) daily to support his wife and a daughter in university.
Aziza Ibrahim, a 38-year-old cleaner in Port Sudan, has reduced her work schedule to three days a week. Before the war, her commute to the city center station cost 700 pounds ($0.08). Fares now range from 2,000 to 2,500 pounds, requiring 11,000 pounds ($1.18) for a daily round trip. This expense consumes nearly half of her 400,000-pound monthly salary ($43). She also manages diabetes treatment and sometimes borrows money to reach work, repaying the loan upon receiving her pay.
Merchants face similar strain. Ahmed al-Haj, a trader in Omdurman market who packages skincare products, reported that moving a tonne of goods now costs 30% to 50% more due to higher fuel prices. Local deliveries in Omdurman have doubled from 5,000 pounds ($0.70) to between 10,000 and 12,000 pounds ($1.07 to $1.29). Al-Haj noted that transport workers are making fewer trips, causing goods to accumulate at trading premises. Reaching customers in other states has become impossible for some businesses.
The United Nations Development Programme reports that average incomes in Sudan have fallen to levels last seen in the 1990s. Sidi Ohaj pointed to drone attacks on infrastructure and the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran as factors disrupting global energy markets. These conditions leave little prospect for a quick return to stable fuel prices and supply levels.
The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum continues to assess the impact of the disruptions. The Transport Chambers Union will monitor fare compliance following the recent increases. Traders and drivers in Port Sudan and Omdurman are adjusting their schedules to account for the new cost structures and longer wait times at fuel stations.
