/ 30 September 2005

Retail petrol price to increase by 12 cents

South Africa’s retail petrol price for all grades of petrol will increase by 12 cents a litre (c/l) from October 5 after a 29c/l rise on September 7, the Department of Minerals and Energy announced on Friday.

The wholesale price of diesel 0,3% sulphur will rise by five c/l after September’s two c/l increase, while diesel 0,05% sulphur will cost six c/l more after a three c/l addition in September.

The wholesale price of illuminating paraffin will be raised by 3c/l after September’s 10c/l increase, while the single maximum national retail price of illuminating paraffin will be increased by three c/l after September’s 14 c/l climb.

The latest increases bring the retail price of a litre of 93 octane petrol in Gauteng to a record 603 c/l. The coastal retail price increases to 590 c/l from 578c/l.

During the review period, the average international prices of petroleum products increased, while the average rand/US dollar exchange rate strengthened when compared to the previous period.

The average rand/US dollar exchange rate for the period was 6,3786 compared with 6,4897 in the August averaging period and 6,7262 in the July averaging period. – I-Net Bridge