Motorists across the country are facing a significant increase in fuel costs just as the holiday travel season begins, following an official announcement from the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. The new prices will take effect from Wednesday.
The Department confirmed that all main fuel types will see increases, attributing the rise primarily to higher international product prices. According to the Department’s statement, these global prices have been driven up by lower inventory levels ahead of the northern hemisphere winter season, a situation exacerbated by both planned and unplanned refinery outages.
The specific adjustments will see both grades of petrol rise by 29 cents per litre. Diesel users will be hit harder, with both grades increasing by between 65 cents and 85 cents per litre. The cost of illuminating paraffin is set to rise by nearly one rand per litre, while liquefied petroleum gas will increase by 24 cents.
The timing of the increases is likely to impact holiday planning and budgets, forcing travelers and families to allocate more money for transportation during what is typically one of the busiest travel periods of the year. The Department’s announcement underscores how local fuel costs remain tightly linked to international market fluctuations and refining dynamics far beyond the nation’s borders.