By Cecilia Chiluba/Zambia/Lusaka
Zambia’s Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has revised petroleum pump prices for May 2026, with diesel, kerosene, and jet fuel recording increases, while petrol remains unchanged.
The ERB has increased the pump price of diesel from K29.78 to K33.99 per litre, representing a 14.14 percent rise.
Kerosene has been adjusted upwards from K32.26 to K35.05 per litre, an increase of 8.65 percent, while Jet A-1 has gone up by 9.33 percent from K34.74 to K37.98 per litre. The pump price of petrol remains unchanged at K27.15 per litre.
According to the Board, the pump price of petrol has remained the same because the changes in the wholesale price were within the set trigger band threshold of 2.5 percent.
In a statement, ERB Board Chairperson James Banda said the adjustments follow a monthly review of global oil market trends and exchange rate movements.
“During the review period, international oil prices continued to rise, mainly due to heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East,” Mr. Banda said.
Mr. Banda noted that the price of petrol on the international market increased by 5.77 percent, rising from US$114.51 per barrel to US$120.28 per barrel.
Diesel recorded a sharper increase of 23.11 percent, jumping from US$162.61 per barrel to US$200.19 per barrel, while kerosene/Jet A-1 rose by 17.75 percent to US$200.08 per barrel.
Mr. Banda stated that despite these increases, Zambia’s currency, the Kwacha showed some resilience, appreciating by 1.44 percent against the United States dollar, moving from K19.44 to K19.16 per dollar.
“This improvement in the exchange rate moderately offset the impact of international oil prices which would have resulted in higher domestic fuel prices,” he explained.
The new fuel prices take effect at midnight on April 30, 2026, and will remain in force until the next review cycle.
