South Africa’s petrol price jumps 22c per litre in December

Happy December! Or well, it was until the change to South Africa’s petrol price was confirmed on Tuesday, weighing on consumer’s pockets like a lump of coal.

According to the Department of Energy (pdf), the petrol price will jump by 22 cents/litre from Wednesday (that is, from midnight, tonight).

https://t.co/xEoQAfuZTG@Energy_ZA @DMR_SA @GwedeMantashe1

— Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (@Energy_ZA) December 3, 2019

Inland drivers will pay as much as R16.30 per litre for the liquid gold.

The reason is a higher average Brent crude cost globally, so we can’t really blame the rand this time around.

Nevertheless, if you drive a diesel car in South Africa, you can enjoy the following news: diesel will cost 15 cents/litre less. This means you’ll be paying as little as R13.99 at the coast for diesel.

For those relying on gas for cooking and heating, illuminating paraffin’s price also drops by 24 cents/litre on Wednesday.

Although it’s yet another increase in 2019 (thankfully the last of the year), the R15-R16 petrol price you’d expect to pay this month is a far cry from October 2018’s horror show.

And at least now a number of retailers have partnered up with petrol stations to provide customers with virtual points.

Both BP and Pick n Pay, as well as Engen and Clicks have struck such deals in the past year.

Feature image: skitterphoto via Pixabay