Economy

Fuel prices record biggest rise in over 13 years

Fuel prices Tuesday jumped by the biggest margin since Kenya started controlling fuel prices in 2010 on costly crude prices and a thirteen-fold increase in the Petroleum Development Levy, ending the era of cheap petrol that started in April.

This is the biggest increase since 2007 when official data on fuel prices are available.

Motorists in Nairobi will pay Sh91.87 per litre of diesel from Sh74.57, representing a Sh17.30 increase, and Sh11.38 more for a litre of super petrol at Sh100.48.

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) linked the expensive fuel to the recovery in crude oil prices, which increased the cost of imported refined fuel, and the increase in the petrol levy to Sh5.40 from Sh0.40, representing a 1,250 percent rise.

The levy was quietly introduced on July 10 through a gazette notice and will see the State collect about Sh2 billion monthly from fuel consumers.

“The prices are inclusive of the revised rates for Petroleum Development Levy,” said EPRA, adding that the cost of refined petrol, diesel and kerosene rose in line with the rebound in crude oil prices.

Kerosene prices rose to Sh65.45 in the capital city, up from Sh62.46 in June, reflecting a Sh2.98 rise.

The energy regulator said the new fuel prices are based on the crude cost of $36.34 in June, representing an increase from $23.55 posted in May and $17.64 April.

FALLING DEMAND

Crude oil prices plunged after a fallout between Saudi Arabia and Russia over production cuts in the wake of the global Covid-19 pandemic, which has also reduced demand for energy on slow economic activities.

But reduced tension between China and Saudi Arabia, backed by increased road traffic in some of the some of the world’s major cities in June, has sparked a rally in crude oil prices.

The costs of energy and transport have a significant weighting in the basket of goods and services that is used to measure inflation in the country.

Producers of services such as electricity and manufactured goods are also expected to factor in the higher cost of petroleum, unleashing pricing pressure across the economy with ramifications on the cost of living measure.

In Kenya, for instance, the majority of the population relies on kerosene and gas for lighting and cooking, making crude price a key determinant of the rate of inflation.

The economy also uses diesel for transportation, power generation and running of agricultural machinery such as tractors with a direct impact on the cost of farm produce.

Inflation rose from 4.59 percent in June from 5.33 percent in January, largely driven by cheap fuel and food prices.

LARGE MARGINS

Tuesday, Petroleum Principal Secretary Andrew Kamau said the additional billions of shillings raised from the Petroleum Development Levy will be used to subsidise fuel prices when they rise by large margins.

“We had a low of $25 per barrel in March and $42 per barrel in July, what are the chances that it could go to $100? We want to cushion particularly those who use diesel because the fuel is used widely in the economy and when prices spike we can help limit the effects to the economy,” Mr Kamau said.

He did provide details on the how the subsidy scheme will work.

EASING RESTRICTIONS

Petroleum dealers have been complaining of being left with expensive unsold fuel since April after review of monthly prices.

The government in April imposed a daily dusk-to-dawn curfew and barred movement in and out of Kenya’s five counties most affected by the virus, including Nairobi and Mombasa.

The marketers said the restrictions have sapped demand for diesel and petrol.

Kenya on July 6 announced a phased reopening of the country from a Covid-19 lockdown, lifting restrictions on travel and allowing air travel to resume.

The easing of the restrictions is expected to increase demand for fuel.