Fuel Overview 

Benin does not have fuel refineries or domestic oil production and is therefore a net importer of hydrocarbons.   

The National Petroleum Marketing Company (SONACOP) is a single-member joint-stock company with the State of Benin, as its main shareholder. SONACOP is the only entity authorised to import fuel into Benin. It also stocks and distributes fuel and is the main fuel authority in the country. SONACOP has the following nominal storage capacity; 75,000 m3 for diesel, 45,000 m3 for petrol and 6,000 m3 for JET A1. There are installed facilities at Cotonou international Airport. Some old tankers are used to transport the fuel from the base the Cotonou port monthly to be offloaded and stocked at SONACOP facilities within the port zone. 

Today there are more than seventeen companies operating in Benin. Among others: SONACOP, ORYX, SUPER OIL ARICOCHE, AGF, AFRIPETROL, EAO PETROLEUM, BP, E-Well etc. Bénin counts in 2023, more than 1 000 stations service and ‘’mini stations’’. This has tremendously been increased compared to 2016 due the Beninese government campaign against the contraband fuel business mainly observed for imported fuel from Nigerian and this can be also related to the oil subsidy removal by the Nigerian government this year 2023. 

The private distributors are more than 17 (including Total/MRS PUMA Energy and MRS etc.) and can withdraw the quantities allocated to each one of them by submitting an order form. The companies can transport the fuel either using their own fleet or via their sub-contractors. There are government restrictions for any other agency to import fuel in Benin without the authorization from the SONACOP or to use any other entry point except Seme Krake Border, Hilaconji and Cotonou ports. 

The payments can be made through bank transfers, cash and there are also possibilities with debit/credit. The Fuel stations generally close their operations in the evening at around 22:00 and re-open at 06:00 in the morning. 

• More information on government regulation on Hydrocarbons importation can be found below: 

• Link 1  

• Link 2 

• Government Contact List 

• Fuel Providers Contact List here. 

Fuel Pricing 

Seasonal Variations  

For further information Source click here. 

Fuel Transportation 

Fuel transportation is done either by the distributors or by their sub-contractors. Some service stations in the country might face shortage in supplies due to the bad roads and the delays that might occur during the rainy season. The official capacity of fuel on road transportation is between 5,000 Lts to 35,000 Lts.  

Standards, Quality and Testing 

There are national standards regulating the fuel quality in the country called Benin Agency of Metrology and Quality Control (ABMCQ), in charge of the JET A1 tests and all petroleum products.   

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.  

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.