African Nations Respond to Fuel Crisis Amid Iran War: Rationing and Innovations

Fri Mar 27 2026 11:31:38 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

As the conflict in Iran disrupts global fuel supplies, African countries are adapting by rationing electricity, diluting petrol, and seeking alternative energy sources to manage the ongoing crisis.

In response to the fuel crisis stemming from the Iran conflict, various African nations are implementing emergency measures. South Sudan is rationing electricity, while Mauritius and Ethiopia are prioritizing fuel for essential services. Zimbabwe plans to increase ethanol content in petrol to mitigate shortages. As countries scramble for alternatives, Nigeria and South Africa could gain economically from the crisis, albeit while ordinary citizens face rising costs.

Countries across Africa have taken measures such as diluting petrol and restricting electricity consumption to cope with the fuel crisis triggered by the US and Israel's war in Iran.

South Sudan has started to ration electricity in its capital, Juba, while Mauritius has imposed restrictions to reduce wastage especially in high-power consumption areas.

As governments scramble to find alternative sources of fuel, Ethiopian authorities have ordered suppliers to prioritize specific sectors such as security, while Zimbabwe is increasing the ethanol content in its petrol.

However, some nations such as Nigeria and South Africa could potentially benefit from new business as a result of the conflict.

South Sudan has some of East Africa's largest oil reserves, but the majority is exported, while it imports the refined product needed for fuel. According to the International Energy Agency, South Sudan generates 96% of its electricity from oil.

The power rationing comes on top of the intermittent cuts that have been ongoing since May last year due to maintenance operations. On Wednesday, Juba's main electricity distributor, Jedco, said parts of the city would start experiencing daily power cuts on a rotational basis. Due to the ongoing Iran-US conflict... Jedco must proactively manage its available energy reserves... we are prioritizing a strategic rationing of power, it stated.

Ereneo Mogga, an electrical engineer who lives in one of the worst-affected parts of Juba, told the BBC that power often goes off at 16:00 and doesn't come back on until 04:00 the next day. This paralyses most businesses, he said, adding that some of those who can afford it are switching to solar power. It is very expensive though, but it costs less in terms of consumption.

The island nation of Mauritius is heavily dependent on oil imports for generating its electricity, with a shortage reportedly triggering an energy emergency. According to the government, a shipment of oil that had been due to arrive over the weekend did not materialize, leaving the country with only 21 days of stock. Energy Minister Patrick Assirvaden stated that the government had obtained alternative fuel supplies from Singapore that were due to arrive on 1 April and more later in the month, but at a higher cost.

With governments scrambling to find alternative sources of fuel, Zimbabwe has said it will increase the amount of ethanol it uses in its petrol, from 5% to 20%. It has also announced plans to scrap some taxes on fuel imports to reduce fuel prices, which have risen 40% in less than a month.

A street vendor in Harare indicated that the prices of everything had shot up since the war in Iran began. Nicole Mazarura, who sells soft drinks, reported that she can't raise the price of her drinks and must bear the loss, with transport costs having doubled depending on the time of day and where she orders her products from.

In Ethiopia, authorities have ordered fuel supply companies to prioritize security institutions, major government projects, key industries, and the manufacture of essential goods. The Ethiopian Oil and Energy Authority's measures announced last week saw petrol stations prioritizing public transport, as well as restrictions to conserve fuel. Authorities in the Tigray region announced a complete suspension of fuel supplies amid fears of unrest.

In Kenya, 20% of petrol stations are reportedly experiencing supply shortages due to high demand from panic buying. Vivo Energy Kenya stated that the increased demand has resulted in temporary stock-outs at some of its service stations. Meanwhile, Kenya's energy ministry denied any shortage of fuel and accused retailers of hoarding the commodity.

South Africa has assured citizens that the country has sufficient supplies but warned that a prolonged conflict could affect availability and prices in the coming months.

However, some ports and marine services in southern and eastern Africa could benefit from tankers and containers avoiding the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, potentially increasing pressure on offshore port areas in southern Africa.

Africa's second-largest oil producer, Nigeria, may benefit from higher oil prices and has offered to pump more oil to help meet global demand, though experts caution that ordinary people may not feel the immediate benefits due to rising transport costs.