Consumers to feel the pinch as fuel price increases

Fuel prices will increase on 6 April, the Department of Energy announced last week. In addition, the fuel levy will be increasing by 30 cents per litre on 6 April too. All forms of fuel will be increasing as of Wednesday.

The increases are as follows:

•          Unleaded petrol 93 and LRP 93 will be increasing by 86 cents per litre in Gauteng and 81 cents at the coast.
•          Unleaded 95 and LRP 95 will increase by 88 cents per litre in Gauteng and 83 cents per litre at the coast.
•          Diesel wholesale (0.05%) will increase in Gauteng by 95.70 cents per litre, and by 90 cents per litre at the coast.
•          Diesel wholesale (0.005%) will increase by 97.70 cents per litre in Gauteng and 92 cents at the coast.
•          Illuminating paraffin (SMNRP) will increase by 79 cents per litre countrywide.
•          The maximum retail price for LPGAS will increase by 110 cents per kilogram countrywide.

The Department of Energy pointed out that during the period under review, the international product prices of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin increased, which contributed to the need for the fuel price increase.

The new fuel prices

The approximate new petrol prices as of 6 April (including price increase and fuel levy increase), will be:

The increases in the petrol price, together with the new fuel levy will see consumers paying the most for petrol this year.

The approximate new diesel prices as of 6 April (including price increase and fuel levy increase), will be:

Source: Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) and Department of Energy

As with the petrol price, consumers will be paying the highest cost for diesel this year at over R10, thanks to the new fuel levy and the increase in the price of diesel.

In addition to the fuel price increases that consumers will have to manage in April, the electricity tariff increase of 9.4% came into effect on Friday 1 April. Furthermore, other rates and tariff increases are expected to be implemented by municipalities over the coming months.