Motorists hit by another fuel price hike

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Pretoria - Motorists, still feeling the pinch of the February fuel price increase, will endure another price hike next Wednesday, the Energy Department has announced.

According to the ministry, the cost of 93 ULP and LRP petrol will rise by 49 cents a litre while that of 95 ULP and LRP petrol will increase by 48 cents a litre.

The cost of Diesel 0.05% Sulphur and Diesel 0.005 will rise by 48.5 cents a litre.

The wholesale price of illuminating paraffin will rise by 21 cents and that of the single maximum national retail price for illuminating paraffin will increase by 28 cents.

The price changes mean that the cost of a litre of 95 ULP petrol will cost R8.58 in Gauteng and R8.35 on the coast.

The department said there had been increases in fuel tax on both petrol and diesel as well as an increase in the road accident fund levy on petrol and diesel.

It said during the period under review, the average international product prices of Petrol, Diesel and Illuminating Paraffin increased..

"The average Rand/US Dollar exchange rate strengthened when compared to the previous period. The average Rand/US Dollar exchange rate for the period 26 February 2010 to 30 March 2010 was 7.4753 compared to 7.6902 during the previous period," said the ministry.