The retail price of petrol will increase by between 31 cents and 36 cents per litre, depending on the grade, on Wednesday 1 April the department of Minerals and Energy announced on Friday.

This follows an increase of 45 cents a litre last month and 61 cents the previous month.

93 octane will increase by 36 cents and 95 octane by 31 cents a litre, the department said.

Diesel prices will also increase, with both 0.05 percent and 0.005 percent sulphur going up by 39.5 cents per litre.

Wholesale paraffin however will decrease by five cents and illuminating paraffin by seven cents per litre.

Petrol in Gauteng now costs 738 cents a litre from 707 cents before, and it is now 714 cents at the coast from 683 cents before.

During the period under review, the average international product prices of Petrol, Diesel and Illuminating Paraffin decreased.

The average rand/dollar exchange rate weakened when compared to the previous period. The average rand/dollar exchange rate for the period 27 February 2009 to 26 March 2009 was 10.0655 compared to 10.0602 during the previous period.

I-Net Bridge