The price of a sack of charcoal in Benin has reached 12,000 CFA francs, prompting officials to address the rising costs of traditional fuel sources. Government spokesperson Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji discussed these economic challenges during a live interactive session on TikTok held on Friday, 16 October 2026. During the broadcast, Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji explained the administration’s position on shifting energy consumption patterns. "The government spokesperson urged citizens to conduct a thorough comparison between their traditional energy expenses and alternative solutions," he stated. This session aimed to guide households toward gas alternatives as the cost of charcoal continues to impact daily budgets across the country.
Rising Costs of Charcoal
Charcoal prices in Benin have experienced a significant increase, rising from a previous cost of approximately 7,000 CFA francs per sack to the current level of 12,000 CFA francs. This shift in market pricing has altered the financial burden on households that rely on traditional fuels for their daily cooking needs. The current market rate of 12,000 CFA francs represents a substantial rise from the previous price of approximately 7,000 CFA francs, forcing many families to re-evaluate their monthly household spending. As the cost of a sack of charcoal has hit 12,000 CFA francs, the financial pressure on the average consumer remains a primary focus of government discourse.
Government officials suggest that families evaluate their energy expenditure by tracking the weekly costs associated with charcoal usage. The administration encourages households to conduct a direct financial comparison between these expenses and the price of gas refills for small canisters, specifically those sized at 1 kg, 2 kg, or 3 kg. By analyzing these smaller unit costs, the government aims to assist citizens in identifying more economical energy alternatives as traditional fuel prices remain high. The government recommends that households compare the weekly cost of charcoal against the cost of gas refills for small canisters (1 kg, 2 kg, or 3 kg) to determine if a transition to gas provides a more sustainable financial path for their specific domestic needs.
Beyond immediate budgetary concerns, the government issued a warning regarding the long-term viability of the charcoal sector. Officials stated that this industry will eventually disappear as a result of national and global environmental transition imperatives. These climate-related requirements are driving the state to move away from traditional biomass fuel sources toward cleaner energy options. The government warns that the charcoal sector will eventually disappear due to national and global environmental transition imperatives, signaling that the current reliance on charcoal is not a permanent feature of the Beninese energy landscape. As these transition imperatives take hold, the administration continues to emphasize that the shift toward gas is aligned with broader efforts to move away from traditional biomass fuel.