Burkina Faso has increased the price of diesel from 675 to 750 CFA francs (about US$1.32) per litre, effective Monday, August 10, in response to rising international oil and transportation costs.
The increase, announced by Abdou-Salam Gampene, secretary-general of the Prime Minister’s Office and chairman of the Interministerial Committee for Determining Hydrocarbon Prices, ends nearly four years of price stability. The last adjustment was made in August 2022.
Gampene said the government spent about 60 billion CFA francs subsidizing diesel during the first six months of 2026, with the cost projected to exceed 135 billion CFA francs by the end of the year if no measures were taken.
He attributed the pressure on the subsidy system to higher international oil prices, increased land and maritime transport costs and the appreciation of the US dollar against the CFA franc.
Diesel consumption reached more than 365 million litres by the end of June and could rise to 730 million litres by December, compared with an estimated national annual consumption of about 500 million litres.
Gampene said the price differential had attracted transporters from neighboring countries to Burkina Faso to refuel, placing an additional burden on the state. The resulting excess consumption could cost the government about 70 billion CFA francs.
He warned that continued pressure on the subsidy system could undermine its financial sustainability and threaten the continuity of Burkina Faso’s hydrocarbon supplies.