Relief at the pumps for Eswatini motorists

By Delisa Magagula

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy has announced a reduction of E0.45 per litre on all fuel products, bringing long-awaited relief to motorists and households across Eswatini.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Principal Secretary Lindiwe Mbingó confirmed that the new prices will take effect at midnight on Thursday, November 6, 2025 (effective Friday, November 7).

The price of Unleaded Petrol (ULP95) will decrease from E20.60 to E20.15 per litre, Diesel (50ppm) will fall from E21.00 to E20.55 per litre, while Illuminating Paraffin drops from E15.35 to E14.90 per litre.

“The lower crude oil price coupled with the stronger Lilangeni had a positive impact on local fuel prices. We encourage the public to use fuel efficiently as the international oil markets and the Lilangeni/Dollar exchange rate remains highly volatile,” said Mbingo.

According to the Ministry, the decrease follows a slight dip in the global price of Brent crude oil, which averaged US$64 per barrel in October, compared to US$67 per barrel in September.

Meanwhile, Lilangeni also appreciated, trading at an average of E17.29 to the US dollar, stronger than the E17.52 recorded the previous month. The last fuel price change was recorded in September 2024, when petrol fell by E1.00 per litre, offering brief relief after several increases earlier in the year.

Across the country, motorists expressed cautious optimism about the latest price cut.

“It’s not much, but any drop is good news,” said Nokuthula Simelane, who drives daily from Ezulwini to Mbabane.

“We’ve been stretched thin by these fuel hikes. This means I can finally breathe a little,” she added.

For ride-hailing driver Sabelo Dlamini, the relief is more practical than emotional.

“A 45-cent drop won’t change my business model, but it helps with daily margins. I hope it doesn’t go up again next month,” he said.

Others, like rural driver Banele Magagula, were more restrained.

“We buy fuel from far stations and prices vary by town. The drop won’t be felt evenly,” he noted.

Commuters, too, are watching how public transport will respond. “If kombis keep the fares the same, we’ll actually feel the difference,” said student Thandeka Gama.

In the kombi sector, reactions were mixed. Some welcomed the drop, while others said it came too late to ease operational pressures.

“This helps us for now,” said Mbabane kombi. Diesel prices have been eating into our profits, so even 45 cents makes a difference,” said owner, Phesheya Mdluli.

However, Manzini’s conductor, Musa Dlamini, was sceptical. He said fuel goes down today, and next month it jumps again.

“We cannot keep changing fares. We just absorb the cost,” he said.

Another kombi owner, Sifiso Magagula, added that while the decrease offers relief, it won’t offset other costs.

“Tyres, servicing, and licenses keep going up. We’re surviving on thin margins,” said Magagula.

Meanwhile, Economists say the fuel price reduction will offer short-term relief but warned that it may not last if the global market shifts.

“This decrease is positive, but we must remember Eswatini imports all its petroleum products,” said economist Dr Ncamiso Simelane.

Energy analyst Zanele Nxumalo added that while the adjustment may slightly ease inflationary pressure, the broader cost of living will remain high.

“Fuel cuts often take time to filter into prices of goods and transport fares,” she said. Internationally, crude oil prices have been fluctuating due to geopolitical tensions, production cuts by major oil producers, and slow demand recovery in key economies.