BUJUMBURA, January 20th (ABP) – The rise in charcoal prices in the various neighborhoods of Bujumbura City is a reality.
In a visit that a check by ABP made on Thursday, January 16, 2025 to the Buyenzi neighborhood, consumers of the charcoal product say that this situation is alarming.
Thérence Niyomukiza, a charcoal seller in the Buyenzi district, indicated that the rise in the price of the product has affected many citizens, especially those with limited means.
According to him, the repeated rise in charcoal is linked to the scarcity of this product within the country and the lack of means of transport. He noted that last year, the price of charcoal was cheaper compared to this year.
Currently, a charcoal bag costs 130,000 BIF, whereas previously it cost 100,000 BIF. Half a bag of charcoal was 90,000 BIF, and currently costs 110,000 BIF. For consumers of charcoal on the pile, a minimum pile of charcoal costs between 2,000 and 3,000.
In other places that that the check by ABP was able to visit, the price of this product was the same. Consumers complain that a pile of charcoal of 2,000 BIF is not enough to prepare a meal. They deplore the fact that using electricity is also a waste when there is a power cut, revealing that charcoal is a product that can be used by several families when cooking.
The product consumers that spoke with the check by ABP ask the government to get involved to facilitate easy access to charcoal.