Consumers will be paying R2.49 more per litre for 95 unleaded fuel, diesel and paraffin versus what they would have paid if the area was still a coastal zone1.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has expressed this concern, about the fuel pricing adjustment, effective on the 04th December 2024.
The Chamber reiterated a point it made two months ago, that fuel is costlier, due to haulers transporting fuel by road from East London.
This is due to a non- operational berth in Port Elizabeth, which was damaged in June this year, resulting in industry hauliers having to transport fuel via road from East London to Nelson Mandela Bay.
The Chamber said it is extremely disappointed that consumers and businesses continue to carry additional costs through the fuel price adjustments to fund this.
Denise van Huyssteen, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, said “it casts doubt that the berth, which is earmarked to be repaired by the 6th of December, may potentially not achieve this deadline.
It is our understanding that completion of the repair of the berth, which was planned for the 6th of December, has been revised to the 11th of December. It remains unclear however by exactly when the fuel berth will become fully operational again.”
Van Huyssteen, said it is the organization’s view that the additional costs incurred to date in transporting these fuels into the area by road has been unfairly passed on to businesses, consumers, commuters and local communities.
She said none of the key stakeholders were consulted prior to the rezoning by the Minister of Minerals and Petroleum Products.
“Businesses, consumers, commuters and local communities have been made to bear the brunt of a shipping vessel accident, not caused by them, by paying inflated prices for fuel and indirectly for other goods and services said Van Huyssteen.