Togo plans to allocate 14.2 billion CFA francs in subsidies for petroleum products in 2026, according to projections contained in the government’s budget law, as authorities seek to cushion households from the impact of energy prices on the cost of living.
The planned allocation represents a sharp decline from 2025, when nearly 25 billion CFA francs were set aside to stabilise fuel prices. Authorities have not formally explained the reduction, but it comes amid broader fiscal reforms encouraged by Togo’s technical and financial partners, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Those partners have consistently urged the government to gradually scale back generalised fuel subsidies and replace them with more targeted social support measures. Such reforms are aimed at easing pressure on public finances while ensuring that assistance reaches the most vulnerable households.
The IMF and other donors have pointed to targeted cash transfers and social safety nets as more efficient alternatives to across-the-board subsidies, which often benefit higher-income consumers disproportionately. Togo has already taken steps in recent years to expand social protection programmes, including targeted assistance for low-income households.
Fuel prices in Togo have remained unchanged since the last pump price adjustment in December 2024. Diesel is currently sold at 695 CFA francs per litre, while unleaded petrol, known locally as super, is priced at 680 CFA francs per litre. Two-stroke fuel, mainly used for motorcycles and small engines, sells for 769 CFA francs per litre, while kerosene is priced at 650 CFA francs per litre.
More Read
The government has repeatedly said maintaining stable fuel prices is a key element of its strategy to contain inflation, particularly in a country where transport costs feed directly into food prices and household expenses.
In addition to petroleum subsidies, the government is planning to allocate 8.7 billion CFA francs in 2026 to support the price of domestic cooking gas. This figure is also lower than in 2025, when 9.6 billion CFA francs was mobilised for the same purpose.
Liquefied petroleum gas is widely promoted by the authorities as a cleaner alternative to charcoal and firewood, both to improve household energy access and to combat deforestation. Subsidising domestic gas has been a central pillar of Togo’s environmental and energy policy, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas.
More Read
The reduction in energy subsidies comes as Togo continues to balance social spending needs with fiscal consolidation efforts. Like many countries in West Africa, the government has faced rising budgetary pressures linked to higher import costs, debt servicing and demands for increased spending on security and social programmes.
While fuel subsidies have helped shield consumers from global price volatility in recent years, economists warn that they can weigh heavily on public finances and crowd out spending on health, education and infrastructure if maintained at high levels.
The government has not announced any immediate plans to adjust pump prices in 2026, and officials have previously stressed that any reform of fuel subsidies would be gradual and accompanied by measures to protect low-income households.
For now, the reduced subsidy envelope signals a cautious shift toward tighter fiscal management, even as authorities continue to prioritise price stability and social cohesion in a context of regional economic uncertainty.
