Dar es Salaam – The Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) has raised retail fuel price caps across Tanzania Mainland from Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 12:01 am, reversing the relief motorists and households had seen in the previous two monthly reviews.
The new schedule is a legal ceiling: stations may not charge above the applicable local cap.
In Dar es Salaam, the October maximum retail price is Sh4,057 a litre for petrol, Sh4,086 for diesel and Sh4,067 for kerosene. Compared with September’s schedule, this is an increase of Sh261 a litre for petrol, Sh209 for diesel and Sh354 for kerosene — rises of 6.9 per cent, 5.4 per cent and 9.5 per cent, respectively.
The increases take all three Dar es Salaam ceilings above Sh4,000 a litre. The October caps are Sh4,123/Sh4,152/Sh4,133 for petrol, diesel and kerosene in Tanga, and Sh4,170/Sh4,199/Sh4,180 in Mtwara, according to EWURA’s notice.
The rise ends two successive monthly reductions in the Dar es Salaam caps. In August, EWURA cut petrol by Sh92 a litre, diesel by Sh204 and kerosene by Sh440; September brought further reductions of Sh102 for petrol, Sh101 for diesel and Sh290 for kerosene.
READ MORE: Fuel Costs Ease Again as September Cap Cuts Deepen Relief
EWURA attributes October’s reversal to renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, from which it says Tanzania sources most of its petroleum products.
The regulator said the tensions affected oil production, supply and shipping and drove a significant increase in world refined-product prices during September. The government says it is monitoring the market and taking measures to safeguard supply and keep prices affordable.
Using the October and September Dar es Salaam ceilings, 20 litres of petrol now costs Sh81,140 at the maximum price, up Sh5,220. Twenty litres of kerosene costs Sh81,340, Sh7,080 more than under last month’s ceiling. These are comparisons of official caps, rather than evidence that every station will charge the maximum.
EWURA publishes monthly wholesale and retail ceilings, with local retail caps calculated from the cost of discharge at the ports of Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Mtwara.
Its price-setting guidance says stations may not exceed the ceiling for their location, while the October notice allows marketers to compete below it, subject to the floor price.
READ MORE: Tanzania Sees Modest Relief at the Pump as Fuel Prices Decline in July
The authority requires stations to display their prices clearly and says consumers can check the applicable cap free of charge by dialling *152*00#.
Its October notice also requires retailers to issue Electronic Fiscal Pump Printer receipts; keeping one gives a buyer evidence if the price charged is above the cap or a complaint is needed.
