Sudan to increase price of some petrol mid-February: source

Sudan will increase the price of fuel sold commercially at some petrol stations to 28 Sudanese pounds (55 U.S. cents) per litre from six Sudanese pounds by mid-February, a source in the oil ministry told Reuters on Wednesday.

Fuel sold at the new price will still be subsidised at 50 percent of its cost by the government, the source added, and the six-pound price will continue to be offered, and subject to rationing, alongside the new price.

The new price would allow people be prepared to pay more to buy petrol without queueing, and to purchase larger quantities of petrol when rationing is in place. Petrol has been rationed this week to four gallons per vehicle.

Sudan has been hit by repeated fuel shortages, the latest of which resulted in seeing long lines at petrol stations over the past week.

High subsidies have also been a drain on the Sudanese budget, contributing to an economic crisis that triggered the street protests that led to the overthrow of former President Omar al-Bashir in 2019.

Officials have said they will negotiate reforms to the subsidy system by next month, and could move towards targeted cash transfers.

Source: Reuters