A severe fuel crisis is crippling daily life in Sudan, with long queues of vehicles at the few operating petrol stations becoming a daily routine. The crisis has been exacerbated by the ongoing civil war, which has crippled domestic refining through drone attacks on infrastructure and energy sources. As a result, Sudan is heavily reliant on imports to meet its fuel needs.
The conflict in the Middle East since late February has led to significant fluctuations in international energy market prices, further worsening Sudan's fuel crisis. The external shock of global oil prices has been compounded by the depreciation of the Sudanese pound against the US dollar, making every imported shipment more expensive. This has resulted in a sharp increase in fuel prices, with the cost of gasoline rising to around $58 per gallon.
Residents of Khartoum are feeling the effects of the fuel crisis, with many spending hours queuing for petrol. Osman Faisal, a Khartoum resident, said he had been waiting for over two hours to fill up his car, adding that the price of gasoline had increased by over $8 in just several days. Another resident, Adnan Osman, expressed hope that the exchange rate would stabilise soon, saying that every morning, people are forced to choose between going to work or queuing for petrol.
The fuel shortage has not only disrupted people's travel but also driven up transportation and delivery costs, pushing up the price of food and daily necessities. Resident Alrazy Mohamed said that the prices of food, including vegetables and bread, are on the rise, severely affecting the lives of everyone in the country. The crisis is also impacting the economy and contributing to a worsening of the country's humanitarian crisis.
The relentless clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023 have forced major oil fields to shut down. The Khartoum refinery, which once met about 70 per cent of national fuel needs, has closed, and several oil fields are offline. This has left Sudan relying almost entirely on imports to meet its fuel needs, further exacerbating the crisis.
Petrol station operators are caught between rising global prices and a plummeting local currency, forcing them to constantly recalculate their rates and frequently shut down pumps. The situation is dire, with no immediate end to the crisis in sight. The Sudanese people are bearing the brunt of the crisis, with many struggling to access basic necessities.
The fuel crisis is just one aspect of the country's humanitarian crisis, which is worsening by the day. The international community is urged to provide support to help alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people. With no end to the conflict in sight, the situation is likely to continue deteriorating, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Key points
- Sudan's fuel crisis is crippling daily life amid ongoing civil war
- The crisis has driven up transportation and delivery costs, pushing up food prices
- The situation is contributing to a worsening of the country's humanitarian crisis
