South African consumers will pay more on all grades and categories of petrol, paraffin and cooking gas starting on Wednesday, Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has announced.
According to Mantashe, the price of petrol has increased to 13 US cents per litre, while diesel now costs 20 cents per litre and illuminating paraffin has gone up by 18 cents per litre.
He attributed the latest fuel hikes to an increase in global oil price to over US$109 due to the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Other factors included the strengthening of the rand against the American greenback, movements in the price of refined petroleum products and a global shortage of diesel, the minister added.
“The 10 cents decrease to the general fuel levy (GFL) will mean this tax now stands at 16 cents per litre — down from its current 26 cents per litre,” Mantashe said.
This levy is, however, expected to change for April and May, he said.
“The price of all fuels is still increasing across the board and could have been worse were it not for the reduction in the GFL,” Automobile Association of South Africa spokesperson Layton Beard said.
NM/jn/APA