Sao Tome Fuel Back After 15 Days, Debts Stay
SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE · ENERGY
Key Facts
- —The country Sao Tome and Principe is a two-island, Portuguese-speaking nation of about 220,000 people in the Gulf of Guinea, off the coast of Gabon.
- —What happened Petrol and domestic kerosene went back on sale at stations on Thursday 22 October, STP-Press reported, after a tanker was unloaded the night before.
- —The riders Tela Non puts the moto-taxi workforce at about 6,000 men, who could not work for about 15 days.
- —The debts One rider owes 2,000 dobras (about US$91) in unpaid weekly payments; a taxi driver spent 1,500 dobras (about US$69) of fuel money on food.
- —The minister Finance Minister Gareth Guadalupe said governing means owning decisions, and that over half the cargo’s cost was diesel.
- —Still open No new government has been named since the 27 September election, and the cargo size and pump price are unpublished.
Sao Tome fuel is back at the pumps after about 15 days, but the men who live off it return to work in debt. Tela Non, a local news site, reported on Friday 23 October that riders and drivers want a government.
The pumps reopened on Thursday 22 October, a day after the long-delayed tanker was unloaded. For US readers, the episode shows how one late tanker can stall a small island economy.
The Riders Return to Sao Tome Fuel and Debt
Tela Non wrote that the moto-taxi is now the main way to move people and goods, and that about 6,000 men work in it. For 15 days they could not work, and the capital’s streets went quiet.
Rider João Paulo de Moura said he would resume work on Friday carrying a lot of overdue debt, which he blames on the government. Riders pay a weekly xiquilá among themselves, he said, and he missed two weeks, so he owes 2,000 dobras (about US$91).
A Taxi Driver Starts From Zero
At the taxi rank, work began in the first hours of Thursday 22 October, Tela Non reported. Cabral Lima, who drives between the capital and Bobô Fôrro, called that day his day zero as a taxi driver.
He had 1,500 dobras (about US$69) at home to fill the car, but he spent it on food rather than go hungry. He put in 5 litres of petrol instead of 15, so the Sao Tome fuel he bought was a third of a normal fill-up.
How Sao Tome Fuel Came Back
STP-Press, the national news agency, reported on Thursday 22 October that petrol and domestic kerosene were on sale again, ending another break in supply. A source at ENCO, a fuel company, told the agency that fuel was available at all stations after unloading on Wednesday night.
The tanker had reached the archipelago’s port in the Lembá maritime zone. This Sao Tome fuel cargo was due on 21 October, after the shortage was first confirmed on 6 October.
What the Minister Said About the Cost
The reopening came about 24 hours after Finance Minister Gareth Guadalupe said he regretted the hardship the shortage caused. “Governar é assim mesmo, é tomar as decisões e assumir as responsabilidades das mesmas”, he said, meaning that governing means taking decisions and owning them.
He said the import carried very high costs, with more than half of the bill going to diesel, which still powers much of the grid. STP-Press did not report the size of the Sao Tome fuel cargo or its price in dollars.
What the Drivers Want From Politicians
Both men said the arrival of Sao Tome fuel does not solve the country’s problems. “Estamos a resolver um problema agora, mas temos outro”, De Moura said, meaning that forming a government is the next problem.
Lima asked why no government exists since the 27 September election, saying he heard leaders had given themselves 30 days. He said officials knew fuel was running out but left their desks for the campaign.
De Moura said the government now has a lesson to learn about timely fuel imports. Neither man said what relief, if any, they expect for their debts.
The Political Clock
President Carlos Vila Nova said on 15 October that he will decide within about 30 days which party forms the government, pointing to mid-November. The 27 September vote gave MLSTP 24 of 55 seats and ADI 23, so neither reaches the 28 needed.
STP-Press quoted the president as saying the new government must show stable support in parliament. He said the decree naming a prime minister comes only after the new National Assembly is constituted.
Empty Reservoirs Add to the Sao Tome Fuel Strain
Tela Non reported on Friday 23 October that the reservoirs fed by springs are almost dry, which explains the water cuts in the capital’s neighbourhoods. EMAE, the company that distributes water across the country, opened its tanks to the public after complaints and protests about the cuts.
The Água Moreira IV tank at the entrance to Diogo Simão was completely empty. At Capela, the Vagi Sun Pinho tank, which once gave 60 cubic metres of water an hour, left water director Nilton Lima stunned.
He said that even after water builds up, supply reaches homes only about once a week. EMAE asked the government for new projects to capture and treat river water.
The Agrião spring at Madalena, which feeds several capital neighbourhoods and the Ayres de Menezes Central Hospital, is also well below its normal flow. Lima said that tank has no water to send to those districts.
What It Means for US Readers
Sao Tome fuel, water and power are tied together on the islands, so a late tanker quickly hits transport, markets and households. Travellers and aid workers should confirm fuel and water arrangements with their hotel or host before arriving.
For investors, decisions on fuel imports, energy and any offshore oil deals sit with a government not yet named. Until the president decides, around mid-November, Sao Tome fuel supply stays with the outgoing team.
What Is Not Known
The size of the cargo, its price in dollars and the current pump price have not been published. It is also open how many riders carry debts like those reported, and whether any relief is planned.
No date has been set for the decree naming a prime minister. It is also unclear when the next Sao Tome fuel shipment is due.
More: Africa news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sao Tome fuel back on sale?
Yes, STP-Press reported on Thursday 22 October that petrol and domestic kerosene were on sale again at stations. A source at ENCO said the tanker was unloaded on Wednesday night.
How long did the Sao Tome fuel shortage last?
Tela Non says moto-taxi riders could not work for about 15 days because petrol stock ran out. STP-Press called it a crisis of almost two weeks.
How many people work as moto-taxi riders in Sao Tome?
Tela Non reports about 6,000 men work in the moto-taxi sector, the main way people and goods move around the country. The article does not cite an official count.
What do the drivers want?
They want a government formed quickly and better planning of fuel imports, Tela Non reported. One rider says he owes 2,000 dobras (about US$91) in unpaid weekly payments.
Who will form the next Sao Tome government?
President Carlos Vila Nova said on 15 October that he will decide within about 30 days. The 27 September election left MLSTP with 24 of 55 seats and ADI with 23.
Is water also short in Sao Tome?
Yes, Tela Non reported on 23 October that spring-fed reservoirs are almost empty. EMAE says supply reaches homes about once a week after the tanks refill.
Sources: Tela Non, Gasolina devolveu vida a cidade de Sao Tome e os taxistas e motoqueiros exigem agora a solucao governativa, 23 October 2026; STP-Press, Gasolina e petroleo domestico ja nas gasolineiras pondo fim a crise de quase duas semanas, 22 October 2026; Tela Non, Rotura de combustiveis agrava crise economica e social, 9 October 2026; Tela Non, Reservatorios de agua vazios surpreenderam o proprio director da EMAE, 23 October 2026; STP-Press, Presidente da Republica diz que dentro de 30 dias ira decidir sobre qual partido ira formar governo, 15 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief