The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has undertaken a review of petroleum product prices for May 2026, citing a rise in international oil prices and a slight appreciation of the Zambian Kwacha against the United States Dollar.
ERB Board Chairperson, James Banda, has announced in a statement that diesel will now retail at K33.99 per litre, up from K29.78, representing an increase of K4.21 or 14.14 percent and noted that Kerosene has been adjusted to K35.05 per litre from K32.26, while Jet A-1 has risen to K37.98 per litre from K34.74.
Mr Banda said the price of petrol remained unchanged at K27.15 per litre as movements in the wholesale price were within the set trigger band threshold of 2.5 percent.
He stressed that the upward adjustment in fuel prices to rising international oil prices is driven by heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Mr Banda said that during the review period, petrol prices on the international market increased by 5.77 percent, while diesel rose significantly by 23.11 percent and kerosene Jet A-1 by 17.75 percent.
He however, noted that the appreciation of the Zambian Kwacha against the United States Dollar by 1.44 percent helped to moderate the impact of the rising global oil prices.
He stated that the revised prices will take effect at midnight on April 30, 2026, and will remain in force until the next review.
Mr Banda added that detailed wholesale and pump price build-ups for May 2026 are available on the ERB website.
