More nasty fuel price shocks in store

And the Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) had recommended an across the board increment of P1.20 litre, after its monthly assessment of fuel prices and associated costs for local oil companies. Both the actual import prices and BERA recommendations are far higher than the average 35 thebe adjustment the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy unveiled on Wednesday and industry experts warned government would not be able to keep a leash on fuel prices.

“Government should have adjusted the prices closer to the levels oil companies are incurring, but such a shock increase would have caused a public revolt,” a senior executive with a local oil company told Mmegi yesterday evening. “We are going into the farming season and diesel is amongst the major inputs. One of government’s considerations could have been to lessen the impact on Batswana.