The Democratic Republic of Congo is set to announce revised fuel prices this week, marking a new phase in price adjustments amid ongoing volatility in global markets.
The announcement was made by Minister of State for Hydrocarbons Acacia Bandubola Mbongo after a meeting with fuel importers on April 14. Operators were urged to maintain supply, with government backing to cover any shortfalls.
An official letter dated April 13 from the Ministry of National Economy said the fuel price monitoring committee will meet on April 16 to update prices in line with global oil market conditions.
These steps follow earlier government directives. During a meeting on April 2 with Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, Hydrocarbons Minister Bandubola and Economy Minister Daniel Mukoko Samba discussed a possible fuel price increase to avoid a gap with international prices.
Global conditions continue to strain the market. Disruptions along supply routes, particularly in the Middle East, are driving up the cost of crude oil, shipping and insurance. For the DRC, which relies entirely on fuel imports, this is increasing pressure on regulated prices.
A targeted increase has already been introduced. In mid-March, a new pricing scheme was applied in the southern zone for mining companies, which do not benefit from subsidies. Diesel rose from $1.70 to $2.43 per liter (+43%), while gasoline increased from $1.60 to $2.08 (+30%). This marks an initial step toward aligning prices with international levels.
Boaz Kabeya
