The Petroleum Pricing Committee (PPC) met on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, for a press release and the news is in: fuel retail prices across Mauritius and Rodrigues are heading up. Effective from midnight on 16 April 2026, entrepreneurs and commuters alike will see a significant jump at the pump.
With international oil markets in flux and a mounting deficit in the national Price Stabilisation Account (PSA), this adjustment was widely anticipated but remains a tough pill to swallow for everyone.
The retail prices for Mogas (L’Essence) and Gas Oil (Diesel) have both seen a 9.9% to 10% increase, hitting the maximum ceiling allowed under current regulations.
| Fuel Type | Old Price (per Litre) | New Price (per Litre) | Increase |
| Mogas (L’Essence) | Rs 58.45 | Rs 64.25 | +Rs 5.80 |
| Gas Oil (Diesel) | Rs 64.80 | Rs 71.25 | +Rs 6.45 |
Several factors, primarily international and geopolitical, have forced this price adjustment. For entrepreneurs and business owners, understanding these “cost-push” factors is vital for financial forecasting.
The ongoing war in the Middle East has severely disrupted global supply chains. The recent escalation near the Strait of Hormuz—a critical artery for global oil—has caused a “war premium” on every barrel imported. This instability is the primary driver behind the surge in global oil benchmarks.
The reference prices used by the STC have climbed sharply:
The Mauritian Rupee remains under pressure against the dollar. The exchange rate used for this calculation is Rs 46.7014 to US$ 1. Since fuel is purchased in dollars, the weak Rupee directly inflates the price at local pumps.
The Price Stabilisation Account (PSA), designed to shield consumers from volatility, is currently in a deficit of Rs 3.206 Billion. To prevent the account from collapsing, the committee was forced to implement the maximum 10% increase allowed under Regulation 5 (3).
For Mauritian SMEs, transport-heavy businesses or a professional commuting daily, these increases represent a direct hit to the bottom line. Here is what it now costs to fill the tanks of the most popular vehicles in Mauritius:
| Vehicle Model | Fuel Type | Tank Capacity | Old Cost | New Cost | Increase per Tank |
| Toyota Hilux | Diesel | 80L | Rs 5,184 | Rs 5,700 | +Rs 516 |
| Nissan NV200 | Diesel | 55L | Rs 3,564 | Rs 3,918.75 | +Rs 354.75 |
| Suzuki Swift | Petrol | 37L | Rs 2,162.65 | Rs 2,377.25 | +Rs 214.60 |
| Toyota Aqua | Petrol | 36L | Rs 2,104.20 | Rs 2,313.00 | +Rs 208.80 |
| Kia Picanto | Petrol | 35L | Rs 2,045.75 | Rs 2,248.75 | +Rs 203.00 |
Consider Jean-Paul, a consultant who drives from Curepipe to Port Louis for work (approx. 44km round trip). Driving a standard petrol sedan (averaging 7L/100km) for 22 working days a month, his fuel consumption is roughly 68 Litres.
To put this into context, the price of fuel has seen significant volatility over the past year.
| Period | Mogas (Petrol) | Gas Oil (Diesel) |
| Today (16 April 2026) | Rs 64.25 | Rs 71.25 |
| 1 Month Ago (March 2026) | Rs 58.45 | Rs 64.80 |
| 3 Months Ago (Jan 2026) | Rs 58.45 | Rs 58.95 |
| 6 Months Ago (Oct 2025) | Rs 58.45 | Rs 58.95 |
| 1 Year Ago (April 2025) | Rs 61.20 | Rs 58.95 |
The fuel increase is part of a broader rise in the cost of doing business in Mauritius. The Central Electricity Board (CEB) has confirmed that electricity tariffs will increase by 15% effective from 1 May 2026.
This “double blow” of rising energy and transport costs means businesses must immediately look at energy efficiency and logistics optimization to protect their margins. For a deeper look at how this will affect your operations, read our full article on the 15% rise in electricity for May 2026.
While the STC has capped the increase at 10%, the actual market data suggested increases of over 20-34% were “warranted.” This suggests that unless international tensions ease, further adjustments could be on the horizon later this year.
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