The retail price of 93 octane leaded, 93 octane unleaded, 95 unleaded and 97 octane leaded and unleaded petrol is to increase by 9 cents a litre (c/l) on March 3 after increasing by 30 c/l on February 4, the Department of Mineral and Energy said on Friday.
In addition, there will be a 3c/l increase in the wholesale price of diesel 0,3% sulphur, but there will be no change in the price of diesel 0,05% sulphur on the same date.
The wholesale price of illuminating paraffin will drop by 2c/l, while the single maximum national retail price of illuminating paraffin will decrease by 3c/l, the Department said.
This means that the retail price of 93 octane petrol rises to 417 cents a litre in Gauteng and 405 cents at the coast, but this will still be less than the 422c/l and 411c/l price that was implemented on March 5 2003.
Wholesale 0,3% sulphur diesel will cost 350,50 cents a litre in Gauteng and 338,30 cents at the coast, while illuminating paraffin will cost 260,90 in Gauteng and 239,90 at the coast.
The department reports that since the beginning of the current fuel price review period — from January 26 to February 25 — international prices of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin decreased.
The average rand/dollar exchange rate was almost the same at 6,8767 from 6,8786, but was weaker than the December reporting period, when it averaged 6,5169.
The government approved an increase of 1,1c/l in the retail margin for petrol, while in April, petrol will face additional levies of 15c/l, as the fuel levy is increased by 10c/l and the Road Accident Fund levy is raised by 5c/l.
Government has approved the implementation of a single maximum national retail price for illuminating paraffin with effect from April 2 2003, which will change on a monthly basis from the first Wednesday of each month and will be promulgated in the Government Gazette.
The single maximum national retail price with effect from March 3 to April 6 will be 336,0c/l, that is a decrease of 3c/l from the February price. – I-Net Bridge