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Johannesburg - The easing rand pressure on the petrol price may be short-lived as the effect of e-tolls on fuel prices filter through, industry body Sapia has warned.
According to SA Petroleum Industry Association's (Sapia's) executive director, Avhapfani Tshifularo, e-tolls were not included in fuel transport costs, a component of the total retail price of petrol.
“The petrol retail price is regulated by the minister of energy. The department of energy is in the process of reviewing fuel primary transport costs, also called magisterial district zone differentials, and e-tolls will have to form part of this review as it is a real cost to industry,” he told City Press.
Sapia, which represents the collective interests of oil giants including BP, Sasol, Shell, Chevron and Engen, said the industry is currently bearing the extra cost of transporting fuel to and within Gauteng while government completes its study, which could take six months.
“We have no choice as the system currently does not allow the recovery of tolling fees,” Tshifularo said.
The weak rand, high average international prices for fuel and rising oil refinery prices have pushed the price of petrolto record highest levels.
And the new general fuel levy- the 12c increase announced by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in last month’s budget speech - will heap more pressure on cash-strapped motorists when it kicks in on April 2.
Automobile Association data show the retail price of petrol in Gauteng is now between R13.91 and R14.32 for all grades of the fuel, a far cry from the R5.82 to R6.01 range observed in January 2009.
According to SA Petroleum Industry Association's (Sapia's) executive director, Avhapfani Tshifularo, e-tolls were not included in fuel transport costs, a component of the total retail price of petrol.
“The petrol retail price is regulated by the minister of energy. The department of energy is in the process of reviewing fuel primary transport costs, also called magisterial district zone differentials, and e-tolls will have to form part of this review as it is a real cost to industry,” he told City Press.
Sapia, which represents the collective interests of oil giants including BP, Sasol, Shell, Chevron and Engen, said the industry is currently bearing the extra cost of transporting fuel to and within Gauteng while government completes its study, which could take six months.
“We have no choice as the system currently does not allow the recovery of tolling fees,” Tshifularo said.
The weak rand, high average international prices for fuel and rising oil refinery prices have pushed the price of petrolto record highest levels.
And the new general fuel levy- the 12c increase announced by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in last month’s budget speech - will heap more pressure on cash-strapped motorists when it kicks in on April 2.
Automobile Association data show the retail price of petrol in Gauteng is now between R13.91 and R14.32 for all grades of the fuel, a far cry from the R5.82 to R6.01 range observed in January 2009.
