/ 31 March 2006

Fuel price shoots up again

The retail price of petrol will go up between 21 cents a litre (c/l) and 24c/l on Wednesday, the Department of Minerals and Energy announced on Friday.

The latest changes bring the retail price of a litre of 95-octane unleaded petrol in Gauteng to R5,73 a litre and to R5,50 a litre at the coast.

The wholesale price of diesel will go up by 25,3c/l for 0,005% sulphur diesel and 26,3c/l for 0,05% sulphur diesel.

Paraffin will become 5,6c/l more expensive and its single maximum national retail price will jump by 8c/l.

The breakdown of the increases in the retail petrol price is 24c/l for 91 ULP; 22c/l for 93 ULP and LRP and 21c/l for 95 ULP and LRP.

Between February 24 and March 30, the average international product prices of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin increased.

The average rand/dollar exchange rate weakened when compared with the previous period. The exchange rate for the period February 24 to March 30 was R6,26 a dollar, compared with R6.1373 during the previous period.

Minister of Minerals and Energy Lindiwe Hendricks has approved an increase of 0,3c/l in the retail margin applicable on all grades of petrol.

”A retail margin of 43,9c/l will become effective on April 5 2006.” — Sapa, I-Net Bridge