Breaking! ERB raises September fuel prices as Kwacha depreciation offsets global oil decline

The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has announced a slight upward adjustment in fuel pump prices for September 2025, attributing the increase to the depreciation of the Kwacha against the United States Dollar despite a marginal fall in international oil prices.

Petrol will now sell at K29.18 per litre, up from K28.00 in August, while diesel has risen to K25.02 from K23.13. Kerosene has increased to K23.64 from K21.98, and Jet-A1 has moved to K25.83 from K23.94 per litre.

In a statement issued on Sunday, ERB Board Chairperson, James Banda, explained that the combined effect of the Kwacha’s 2.5 percent depreciation and higher petroleum product premiums outweighed the benefit of lower international oil prices in the September domestic price review.

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“Since the last price review on July 31, 2025, the Kwacha depreciated against the United States Dollar from K23.23/US$ to K23.81/US$,” Banda said.

International oil prices recorded slight declines during the same period, with petrol dropping by 0.35 percent to US$74.32 per barrel, diesel falling by 2.81 percent to US$84.26 per barrel, and kerosene/Jet-A1 reducing to US$82.04 from US$83.27 per barrel.

The new pump prices take effect from September 1, 2025, and will remain in force until the next review by the ERB.

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