NAIROBI, Kenya — Several African nations are confronting worsening fuel shortages and energy stress as the war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran continues to disrupt global oil supplies through the crucial Strait of Hormuz — a vital artery for approximately 20 per cent of the world’s crude exports.
The conflict has unsettled global energy markets and created knock‑on effects across the continent, threatening stability, economic growth, and everyday access to fuel for transport, power generation, and industry in African countries highly dependent on imported petroleum products.
In Mauritius, government authorities have introduced restrictions on non‑essential electricity use after supplies of heavy fuel oil dwindled, with replacement shipments now expected by early April.
South Sudan’s capital, Juba, has begun rationing power as diesel stocks run low, while Uganda is reporting limited supplies of diesel and petrol.
In Kenya, about 20pc of petrol stations are experiencing supply constraints, though Nairobi officials say overall national stocks remain adequate, attributing shortages in part to panic buying by motorists.
South Africa has also seen pockets of diesel shortages, driven in part by bulk purchases ahead of anticipated price increases, even as government officials maintain that national fuel reserves are intact.
Energy analysts warn that the situation is being driven by mounting geopolitical risk and logistical disruptions.
Oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows have been disrupted by attacks on energy infrastructure and restrictions on tanker traffic, prompting some countries to reroute shipments around the Cape of Good Hope, adding costs and delivery delays.
Most African economies are net importers of refined oil products, making them particularly vulnerable to external shocks in supply and price.
As global oil prices have climbed, at times trading above $100 per barrel, transport and operating costs are increasing, placing upward pressure on inflation and household expenses.
Nigeria’s billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote has also warned that a prolonged energy crunch could force companies and workers to adopt work‑from‑home arrangements similar to those seen during the COVID‑19 pandemic, a scenario that could disproportionately harm vulnerable households.
The crisis is reminiscent of past oil shocks but comes at a time when African nations have little spare refining capacity and limited strategic petroleum reserves.
Economists say repeated disruptions could slow economic growth, weaken currencies, and exert lasting pressure on fiscal balances unless alternative energy sources and supply routes are developed.
Governments across the continent are now calling for diversified energy supplies, greater storage capacity, and enhanced cooperation to shield economies from prolonged external disruptions.
