TANZANIA: NO RELIEF FOR GASOLINE MOTORISTS AS FUEL PUMP PRICES GO UP

There will be no relief for motorists using gasoline engines this month as pump prices for petrol continued to go up, thus forcing them to make extra spending.

But the situation is different with diesel engines users where prices have continued to register a decline since May, this year, to the month under review.

Since most of the cargo trucks and buses are diesel engines, the continued price falling means majority of the people will enjoy stability of transport costs. The situation is also translated into easing prices for various goods.

The indicative prices released by the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) on Wednesday shows that the retail petrol prices increased slightly by 1/-, equivalent to 0.05 per cent compared to an increment of 39/- or 1.74 per cent rise in August.

The two remote towns of Lugufu and Ruberwa in Kigoma and Kagera regions have continued to record the highest retail fuel pump prices for all the petroleum products despite a decline in diesel and kerosine.

The retail prices for petrol increased to 2,510/- at Uvinza District (Lugufu) in Kigoma Region from 2,509/- in the previous month while at Karagwe District (Kayanga), it rose to 2,504/- from 2,503/- per litre in August this year.

The retail gas oil prices eased to 2,334/- at Lugufu in the month under review from 2,349/- in August while at Kyerwa (Ruberwa), it declined to 2,328/- from 2,343/- per litre in August.

The situation could be translated negatively on the increased cost of living of the people in these areas to the extent of making their economic activities including agriculture and businesses to be unprofitable, thus failing to transform from abject poverty.

The prices for petrol in Dar es Salaam has increased slightly to 2,267/- from 2.266/- in the previous month while gas oil and kerosine eased to 2,091/- and 2,040/- per litre from 2,106/- and 2,057/- per litre respectively.

Daily News