Diesel prices in Southern Africa for mining: September 2026

In September 2026 the official diesel price is K26.86 a litre in Zambia and US$2.08 a litre in Zimbabwe, and Mozambique’s port cities pay 116.25 meticais a litre. South Africa’s wholesale list price for 0.05% sulphur diesel is 2,911.11 cents a litre in Gauteng. Each figure comes from the country’s own regulator or ministry, read on 25 September 2026.

These prices change when each regulator reviews them, monthly in South Africa and Zambia. Check the next announcement before you price a job.

September 2026 diesel prices by country

ZERA publishes Zimbabwe’s price in US dollars itself. We give no other US dollar figures because we have not read an official exchange rate for each effective date. The ERB release says Zambia’s price was “maintained” and gives no effective hour.

Why the numbers are not like-for-like

• Wholesale against pump. South Africa’s DMPR says the diesel retail price “is not regulated, but a wholesale list price is published” (fuel price structure). Zambia and Mozambique publish pump prices. ZERA’s page lists “current fuel prices” without saying whether they are pump or maximum prices.
• Zones. South Africa prices by magisterial zone. Mozambique’s 116.25 MT applies where there is a distribution terminal; elsewhere ARENE adds a transport differential. Zambia’s is a national uniform price.
• Grades. South Africa’s figure is 0.05% sulphur (500ppm); its 0.005% (50ppm) grade is 2,955.51 c/l in Gauteng. Zimbabwe labels its diesel D50, and the Zambian and Mozambican releases do not state a grade.
• Taxes held back. The ERB says it kept Zambia’s prices unchanged through “the suspension of Excise Duty and zero rating of Value Added Tax (VAT)” and a price smoothing mechanism.

What 1,000 litres costs

Notes for contractors working across borders

• Mozambique has a separate megaproject price. ARENE’s May schedule sets “Gasóleo MegaProjectos” at 108.20 MT a litre, below the public pump price. It lists Tete city and Moatize at 121.64 MT a litre. If your client holds megaproject status, ask which price applies to your supply.
• Zambia’s price rests on tax relief. The ERB’s September release puts the held price down to the excise suspension and VAT zero rating. Those measures are policy choices that can be reviewed. The ERB publishes wholesale and pump price build-ups on its website.
• Mozambique has not moved since May. ARENE’s home page still showed “Preços em vigor desde 07 de Maio de 2026” on 25 September.
• South Africa’s next price period starts on 7 October. The current DMPR price period runs to 6 October 2026. Our South African diesel price for September has the zone detail and the 2026 history, and the diesel refund piece covers who can claim it.

Not published or not verified

Common questions

What is the diesel price in Zambia in September 2026?

K26.86 a litre, the national uniform pump price set by the Energy Regulation Board for September 2026. It is unchanged from August. The ERB says the price was held through the suspension of excise duty and zero rating of VAT.

What is the diesel price in Mozambique in September 2026?

116.25 meticais a litre at filling stations in Maputo and Matola, Beira, Nacala and Pemba, the price ARENE set from 7 May 2026 and still in force on 25 September. Elsewhere ARENE adds a transport differential: Tete city and Moatize pay 121.64 meticais.

Can these diesel prices be compared directly?

No. South Africa publishes a wholesale list price while Zambia and Mozambique publish pump prices, the grades differ, and Mozambique prices its terminal cities first, with other places priced from them. Use each figure against its own regime.

Why are Botswana and Namibia not in the table?

BERA’s media page lists a fuel price adjustment dated 6 July 2026, but the file could not be opened on 25 September 2026. Namibia’s ministry published September prices only on its Facebook page, and we could not confirm that account is verified. We print only prices we have read in a confirmed official publication.

Sources

1. Media statement: fuel price adjustments effective from 2 September 2026, DMPR, 31 August 2026.
2. Fuel price adjustment documents, September 2026, DMPR and CEF.
3. Fuel price structure, DMPR.
4. Review of petroleum pump prices for September 2026, Energy Regulation Board, Zambia, 31 August 2026.
5. Fuel price review announcement for September 2026, Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, Namibia, Facebook post (account verification not confirmed; figures not used; the ministry website did not load on 25 September 2026).
6. Current fuel prices, Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority, as of 17 September 2026.
7. Actualização dos preços dos produtos petrolíferos regulados, ARENE, 6 May 2026, with annexes.
8. ARENE home page, prices in force, ARENE.
9. Media and press releases, Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority.