South Sudan is expected to receive about 200 fuel trucks next week as the government seeks to ease a fuel shortage that has disrupted supplies and contributed to rising prices across the country.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Margaret Labanya, following a meeting of the presidential committee established to address inflation and soaring market prices.
Labanya said the committee held discussions with officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and representatives of Pacific Petroleum Company, the firm contracted by the government to import fuel into South Sudan, to assess the causes of the current shortages and agree on measures to restore supplies.
According to the minister, around 200 fuel trucks are expected to enter the country next week, a development the government hopes will improve fuel availability and help stabilise prices at filling stations.
She attributed the fuel crisis to a combination of legal and logistical challenges that have disrupted imports.
“The committee met with the Ministry of Petroleum and Pacific Petroleum Company to understand the reasons behind the fuel shortages.
We were informed that legal injunctions affecting fuel imports, together with operational challenges at the Port of Mombasa and at the Nimule border crossing, have delayed deliveries,” Labanya said.
She explained that court orders had temporarily prevented the movement of fuel imports, while congestion and operational difficulties along the transport corridor further slowed the delivery of petroleum products into the country.
The shortages have led to long queues at fuel stations in Juba and other towns, with some retailers running out of stock and transport operators reporting increased operating costs.
The disruption has also pushed up fuel prices on the parallel market, adding pressure to the cost of food, transport and other essential goods.
The presidential committee, formed to address inflation and market instability, said it is working with relevant government institutions and private sector partners to ensure fuel imports resume without further interruption.
Officials expressed optimism that the arrival of the 200 fuel trucks next week will significantly improve supplies and reduce pressure on the market, although they acknowledged that longer-term solutions will be needed to prevent recurring shortages.
The government has not yet indicated whether additional fuel shipments will follow or when normal supply levels are expected to be fully restored.
