/ 30 January 2004

SA petrol price to increase by 30 cents

The retail price of leaded 93 octane, unleaded 93 octane, unleaded 95, leaded 97 octane and unleaded petrol is to increase by 30 cents a litre on February 4, the Department of Mineral and Energy (DME) said on Friday.

In addition, there will be a 22c/l increase in the wholesale price of sulphur diesel 0,3% and a 21c/l increase in sulphur diesel 0,05% on the same date.

The wholesale price of illuminating paraffin increases by 17c/l, while the single maximum national retail price of illuminating paraffin will rise by 23c/l, the Department said.

This means that the retail price of 93 octane petrol rises to 408 cents a litre in Gauteng and 396 cents at the coast. Wholesale 0,3% sulphur diesel will cost 347,50 cents a litre in Gauteng and 335,30 cents at the coast, while illuminating paraffin will cost 262,90 in Gauteng and 241,90 at the coast.

The department reports that since the beginning of the current fuel price review period — from December 26 to January 23 — international prices of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin rose.

The average rand/dollar exchange rate weakened to 6,8786 in the reporting period from 6,5169 in the previous reporting period.

Government has approved the implementation of a single maximum national retail price for illuminating paraffin with effect from April 2, which will change on a monthly basis from the first Wednesday of each month and will be promulgated in the Government Gazette. – I-Net Bridge