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Gloria Magombo

Charity Ruzvidzo/Oliver Kazunga Business Reporters
SERVICE stations have increased fuel prices by an average of five cents per litre, alleging that the international oil price has increased. A survey by Chronicle Business in Bulawayo last Friday revealed that most service stations had increased prices by between four to seven cents.

“Fuel prices have increased indeed. We’re selling our petrol at $1,46 from $1,42 per litre. Diesel has increased to $1,35 from $1,28,” said a fuel attendant at Total, only identified as P Ndlovu.

A fuel attendant at Sakunda who preferred anonymity said global fuel prices had inched higher in the past few weeks hence local service stations were following suit.

“We’re selling our petrol at $1,47 from $1,43. Diesel is now $1,38 from $1,33. The prices have increased because where we buy the fuel, prices have also increased. We’re made to understand that prices have increased on a global level,” said the attendant.

Trek has also increased its prices although its margins remain relatively lower. Trek outlets are selling petrol at $1,42 from $1,41 and diesel $1,29 from $1,25.

At Zuva a litre of petrol costs $1,38 and diesel is pegged at $1,28.

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) chief executive officer, Gloria Magombo, had not responded to written questions from this publication by the time of going to print.

“I can confirm that international oil prices increased by beginning of mid February. I don’t have the figures off hand of how much the increase has been. Please send an email to my team and they will respond to your questions,” said Magombo.

The government earlier this year directed the local oil industry reduce fuel prices by almost 20 percent to $1,20 for diesel and $1,32 for petrol in line with the falling international crude oil prices.

The price of crude oil has been on a freefall since June 2014, where it was around $118 per barrel to $70 in December.