Fuel Price Shocker

Fuel.
Fuel.

Fuel prices have been increased by as much as P1.75 per litre, giving consumers a nasty shock and the fifth increase for the year. The Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) yesterday announced the latest increase, which took effect on Monday.

According to the release: * Retail pump price of unleaded petrol 93 will increase by P1.60 per litre; *Retail pump price of unleaded petrol 95 will increase by P1.65 per litre; *Retail pump price of diesel 50ppm will increase by P1.75 per litre BERA officials said the latest increase was due to large debts that government has been accumulating to oil companies as a result of not passing on increases in international fuel prices.

Previous pump price increases had not helped as global oil prices kept rising. "The accrued unit rates under recoveries (difference between the actual cost of product and pump price) were never cleared by the price increase because international oil prices have generally been increasing," BERA officials said in a statement. "This has led to the increase of the cumulative debt between government and oil companies. "Therefore, there is need for regular price adjustments to manage unit rates and the cumulative debt to oil companies." Fuel pump prices were previously increased in February, March, July and October, pushing inflation up and mounting pressure on consumers.

Editor's Comment
Bravo police for prompt action

It is also hurting that whilst we all know that the Botswana Police Service (BPS) is charged functionally with the duties to investigate all forms of crime, some locals have resorted to taking the law into their own hands. It is very wrong to do that. There is also a possibility that one may wrongfully take the life of a person in the process, unless it is a justifiable case of self-defence. Recently, in the city of Francistown, some locals found...

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