Fuel prices will reach new record levels tomorrow. The price of 93 octane petrol will rise by R2.37/l and 95 octane by R2.57/l, with low sulphur 50ppm diesel to go up by R2.30/l and 500ppm by R2.31/l, a BusinessLIVE report says.

Illuminating paraffin rises R2.21/l. This new retail price of a litre of 93 petrol will be R26.31 and 95 will cost R26.74 inland, while the inland wholesale price of 500ppm diesel will be R25.40 and 50ppm diesel will cost R25.53.

The prices are nearly R10/l more than a year ago and the Department of Minerals & Energy attributes the hikes to average international product prices for fuel increasing during the period under review.

The rand appreciated against the US dollar from R15.94 to R15.76, preventing the hikes from being even worse, but the government's temporary reduction in the general fuel levy is being halved in July, which adds to the increases.

Another big increase awaits cash-strapped motorists next month when the temporary reduction in the fuel levy expires.

On 31 May, the Ministers of Finance and Mineral Resources & Energy jointly announced an extension of the temporary reduction levy by 150c/l on both petrol and diesel until July 5 and thereafter adjusting the relief to 75c/l from 6 July.

The temporary relief will be withdrawn from 3 August.

The fuel levy in petrol and diesel respectively amounts to 319c/l and 305c/l.

The AA says while pressure is building on the government to formulate a solution to the rising fuel costs, short-term relief, while welcome, is not sustainable.

Full BusinessLIVE report