South African motorist will kick off 2023 on a good note with significant decreases for both petrol and diesel users on Wednesday.
According to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) the price of both grades of petrol will decrease by R2.06 per litre from Wednesday, January 4, while diesel will drop by between R2.68 (500ppm) and R2.80 (50ppm).
Wholesale illuminating paraffin will fall by R1.93per litre and the retail price by R2.58 per litre. However, LP gas will increase by 82 cents per kilogram.
What this means is that a litre of 95 unleaded petrol will now cost R20.75 at the coast and R21.40 inland; whereas 93 unleaded now costs R21.10. The wholesale price of 50ppm diesel is set to drop to R20.79, although retail prices which vary between outlets will be higher.
The reductions are a result of a stronger rand and a decrease in Brent oil prices.
The department said the average price of Brent oil fell from $88.77 (R1,508) a barrel to $85.08 in December and the rand had strengthened slightly against the dollar.
The Automobile Association (AA) said the cuts would help ease the fuel price burden on motorists returning from the holidays and consumers heading into the new year.
“These decreases will not take fuel prices to levels seen in January 2022 but will go a long way to alleviating the fuel price burden- and its associated impact on other prices- felt by millions of South Africans.”
For the record, a litre of 95 unleaded cost 18.89at the coast in January 2022, which is still R1.86 less than it will be in the first month of this year.
Source: Business Tech, My Broadband, IOL, Times Live, image from Twitter: @whkobserver