/ 2 July 2004

Fuel price to drop by 17c

The price of fuel will drop by 17 cents a litre next Wednesday, the Minerals and Energy Department announced on Friday. This will apply to 93 octane — leaded and unleaded. There will be a 16 cents per litre decrease in the retail price of 95 unleaded, 97 leaded and a 10 cent decrease for 97 unleaded.

The wholesale price of .3% diesel drops by 13 cents a litre, and .05% drops 16 cents.

Illuminating paraffin drops 9 cents per litre wholesale and the single maximum national retail price drops by 12 cents.

The retail prices of all grades of petrol and the wholesale prices of diesel (0,05%) and illuminating paraffin were subsidised by eight cents a litre, one cent a litre and 12 cents a litre respectively from June 2 but these subsidies will be withdrawn

next Wednesday, the department said.

Factors leading to the decrease include a decrease in international product prices, and a strengthening of the average rand/dollar exchange rate. – Sapa