Mbabane – FUEL prices will rise by between E1.30 and E1.35 per litre from midnight tonight, adding further pressure on motorists and households already facing higher transport and living costs.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy announced yesterday that the price of Unleaded Petrol (ULP95) will increase by E1.30 per litre, while Diesel 50ppm S and Illuminating Paraffin will each go up by E1.35 per litre.
The new prices will take effect at midnight on Thursday, September 3, 2026, meaning motorists will pay the higher rates from Friday, September 4, 2026.
ULP95 will increase from E24.67 to E25.97 per litre, while Diesel 50ppm S will rise from E27.50 to E28.85 per litre.
The price of Illuminating Paraffin will also increase, moving from E20.38 to E21.73 per litre.
The ministry attributed the latest increases to higher international crude oil prices and supply pressures in the global fuel market.
According to the ministry, crude oil averaged US$89 per barrel in August 2026, up from an average of US$87 per barrel in July.
It said shipping risks in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, had affected global supply conditions.
The ministry also pointed to an extended Russian export ban on diesel following damage to refining infrastructure caused by Ukrainian drone strikes in early July.
These developments, it said, had tightened global fuel supplies and contributed to higher fuel prices.
The increase comes despite a slight appreciation of the Lilangeni against the United States dollar during the period under review.
The Lilangeni averaged E16.11 to the US dollar in August, compared to E16.46 in July.
The stronger exchange rate therefore provided some relief against the international price increases, but was not enough to offset the rise in crude oil and refined fuel prices.
The ministry has advised consumers to use fuel efficiently as international oil prices and the Lilangeni/US dollar exchange rate remain volatile.
The latest adjustment means motorists will now pay almost E26 per litre for petrol, while diesel will cost close to E29 per litre.
The increases are expected to have wider implications for transport operators and consumers, as fuel costs feed into the prices of transportation and goods.
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