Drivers smacked with big fuel hike

Johannesburg - The price of petrol will rise by between 48c and 49c a litre on April 7, the energy department said on Wednesday.

Petrol 93 ULP and LRP will increase by 49c (to R8.40 in Gauteng) per litre while petrol 95 ULP and LRP will cost 48c (to R8.58) per litre more.

The wholesale price of diesel with a 0.05% sulphur content would increase by 48.5c a litre.

Diesel with a 0.005% sulphur content would increase in price by 48.5c a litre.

The wholesale price of illuminating paraffin would jump by 21c a litre while the single maximum national retail price for illuminating paraffin would increase by 28c a litre.

The department said there had been increases in fuel tax on both petrol and diesel.

"The minister of finance, in his Budget speech on February 17, 2010, announced an increase of 17.5c per litre in the fuel tax (this includes 7.5c per litre to contribute to the funding of the New Multi-Product Pipeline between Durban and Gauteng) on petrol and diesel with effect from April 7 2010," the department said.

The minister also announced an increase in the Road Accident Fund levy on petrol and diesel of eight cents a litre. This would also come into effect on April 7.

On economic factors affecting the fuel price, the department said that during the period under review - February 26 to March 30 - the average international product prices of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin increased.

The average rand/dollar exchange rate had strengthened when compared to the previous period.

"The average rand/dollar exchange rate for the period February 26 to March 30, 2010 was R7.4753 compared to 7.6902 during the previous period."

- Sapa