Guyanese President Irfaan Ali has publicly confirmed a temporary national fuel shortage on Monday, 13 April 2026, attributing the disruption to an unexpected logistics incident affecting major fuel importer SOL. The issue emerged after one of SOL’s cargo vessel anchorages sustained damage, forcing the fuel-laden ship to turn back from port, cutting off planned incoming supply to the South American nation.
The announcement comes as photos circulated online showing lengthy queues of motorists waiting to refuel at RUBIS gas station on Vlissengen Road, highlighting the immediate public impact of the supply crunch. Following an emergency meeting with all major fuel suppliers operating in Guyana, President Ali shared updates on the government’s response via his official Facebook page.
“I met with fuel importers today to address the current fuel shortages. I’ve been assured that shipments are expected as early as tonight, with additional supplies already being sourced to meet national demand,” the President wrote.
In subsequent comments to Demerara Waves Online News, President Ali clarified that fuel supplies for Guyana Power and Light (GPL), the country’s primary public electricity provider, would remain fully unaffected by the supply disruption, easing fears of widespread power outages across the nation.
According to President Ali’s briefing, state-owned fuel operator Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL) currently holds adequate stock to meet demand, while competitor RUBIS has confirmed it is positioned to supply as much fuel as the country requires, with new shipments already en route. He added that RUBIS is already moving to boost its on-ground distribution to ease short-term tightness.
To proactively prevent further supply issues, President Ali announced he has issued an order directing GUYOIL to utilize 100% of its available storage capacity to build up reserve stocks. He emphasized that the national administration is maintaining close, continuous monitoring of the fuel supply situation to ensure market stability and consistent flow of product to consumers, noting that officials will follow through to verify that all supplier commitments for incoming shipments are met.
“RUBIS and GUYOIL said that they don’t foresee a challenge and they have orders in line and some of it will arrive as early as tonight (Monday) night. Well, we are monitoring it to ensure that the assurances given are followed through with,” the President stated.