The price of petrol might be dropping but other fuel increases will hit South Africans hard, cautions the AA

03 May 2022 - 13:30 By Motoring Reporter and AASA
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The AA says significant increases in the prices of diesel and illuminating paraffin will have a substantial impact on the cost of living. File photo.
The AA says significant increases in the prices of diesel and illuminating paraffin will have a substantial impact on the cost of living. File photo.
Image: Supplied

While the adjusted fuel prices for May show a decrease in the cost of both grades of petrol, the Automobile Association (AA) says the significant increases in the prices of diesel and illuminating paraffin will have a substantial impact on the cost of living.

The minister of mineral and energy resources today announced a 12c/litre decrease in the prices of both grades of petrol but increases of between 92c/l and 98c/l for diesel inland, between 88c/l and 94c/l for diesel at the coast, and between 79c/l and 82c/l for illuminating paraffin. The adjustments come into effect at midnight tonight. 

According to the department the average international product prices of petrol decreased while those of diesel and illuminating paraffin increased, resulting in the sharp increases locally. The department notes these prices climbed “because there is still a shortage of diesel supply which is due to lower exports from Russia as major exporter of distillate fuel, low inventories globally as well as higher demand for distillates”.

“Naturally, the decreases to petrol are welcome. They will offer some relief in the short-term. Of concern, however, are the high increases in  diesel and illuminating paraffin which will, undoubtedly, put extra financial pressure on millions of South Africans already struggling to make ends meet. The price of illuminating paraffin is particularly worrying as this fuel is used for cooking, heating and lighting and comes as SA enters winter,” the AA notes.

The adjustments mean the cost of 95 ULP in Gauteng will be marginally cheaper in May than in April but still high at R21.84/l and R21.09/l at the coast (both below the earlier record prices of R21.96/l and R21.24/l set in April). However, the cost of diesel is in record territory which will impact the economy as this is a major input cost in the manufacturing, road freight, agricultural and mining sectors and increases to these input costs will be passed on to consumers.

The Association says the relief offered in February of a reduction of the General Fuel Levy (GFL) by R1.50 is cushioning the blow of the increases but a more permanent solution must be found before month-end.

“Government provided short-term relief through reducing the GFL, but this relief ends at the end of May going into June. If the GFL returns to its set rate, that will add another R1.50/l to petrol and diesel and will certainly push the prices of these fuels much higher. The question now is how government plans to deal with the fuel price going forward, and how, ultimately, this will result in sustainable relief for SA consumers.”


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