Benin: As charcoal prices rise, government urges households to switch to gas

A bag of charcoal now sells for about 12,000 CFA francs in Benin’s markets, up from nearly 7,000. On October 16, 2026, government spokesperson Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji urged households to compare the cost and duration of charcoal use with domestic gas refills. Since May, 1.5 kg and 3 kg gas cylinders have been refillable for 1,000 and 2,000 CFA francs, while the 6 kg refill price fell from 4,700 to 4,500 francs. Houngbédji also promoted gas as a way to protect forests and combat climate change, warning that charcoal could eventually become difficult to find.