MBABANE – Motorists and households across the Kingdom will pay more at the pump from Friday after the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy announced a sharp fuel price increase effective at midnight on Thursday, 2 April 2026.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry, the price of Unleaded Petrol will go up by E2.90 per litre, Diesel 50ppm S will increase by E5.35 per litre and Illuminating Paraffin will rise by E5.30 per litre. The new prices take effect at midnight on Thursday and become applicable on Friday, 3 April 2026.
The adjustments mean Unleaded Petrol 95 will move from E19.45 per litre to E22.35 per litre. Diesel 0.005 percent S will rise from E19.85 per litre to E25.20 per litre, while Illuminating Paraffin will increase from E14.20 per litre to E19.50 per litre. 
The Ministry attributes the hike to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East which have disrupted global fuel supply logistics. These disruptions have led to higher international fuel prices and longer lead times for imported fuel products.
During March 2026, Brent crude oil traded at an average of US104 dollars per barrel, compared to an average of US69 dollars per barrel recorded in February 2026. This surge has filtered into the local pricing structure.
Government says the impact on local fuel prices resulted in very high deficits across all petroleum products, reaching up to E12.14 per litre. For March and April 2026 combined, oil companies incurred a deficit of E332 million. Government will settle this amount through the Strategic Oil Reserve Fund, also known as the fuel stabilisation fund, to cushion consumers from the full effect of the increases.
The Ministry has encouraged the public to use fuel efficiently as international oil markets remain volatile amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions.
