South Sudan and Mauritius have both announced measures restricting electricity consumption due to the fuel crisis triggered by the US and Israel's war in Iran, which is also affecting other countries across Africa.
South Sudan has begun rationing electricity in the capital, Juba, while Mauritius has imposed restrictions to reduce wastage especially in high-power consumption areas.
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 prioritising a strategic rationing of power, it said.
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 materialise, leaving the country with only 21 days of stock.
Energy Minister Patrick Assirvaden said on Monday 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.
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. 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.
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.
One street vendor in Harare said the prices of everything had shot up since the war in Iran began. Nicole Mazarura, who sells soft drinks from a push cart, told the BBC she can't raise the price of the drinks so she has to bear the loss, while transport costs had doubled, depending on the time of day and where she orders her products from.
In Ethiopia, authorities have ordered fuel supply companies to prioritise security institutions, major government projects, key industries and the manufacture of essential goods, amidst reports of shortages affecting public transport.
Kenya's energy ministry has pointed out that 20% of petrol stations are reportedly experiencing supply shortages, citing high demand for fuel because of panic buying. Meanwhile, Uganda has assured citizens that the government is taking measures to ensure there is enough fuel, amid reports of shortages. In South Africa, officials are warning of potential impacts on fuel availability and prices due to a prolonged conflict.
As nations continue to navigate this crisis, the economic ramifications loom large over ordinary citizens who are bearing the brunt of rising costs and fuel shortages across the continent.
