Motorists in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan area won’t enjoy the full fuel price relief that was announced for the rest of South Africa from Wednesday, October 2.
A damaged tanker berth in the Port Elizabeth Harbour means that fuel is now being transported into the metro from East London.
“The Port of Port Elizabeth (PE) has been temporarily closed due to an incident that occurred at the Port in June 2024. The Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy has approved the implementation of the revised transport tariffs into the petrol, diesel and Illuminating Paraffin (IP) price structures as an interim measure until the Port of PE is operational, with effect from the 2nd of October 2024,” the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy said in a statement.
“The adjustment to the road transport tariffs applicable to petrol, diesel and IP price structures will range from a decrease of 0.9 c/l in Zone 9A to an increase of 10.5 c/l in Zone 8B.”
This means Qgeberha residents won’t reap the full benefit of the significant fuel price cuts that came into effect around South Africa on Wednesday, with 95 Unleaded petrol decreasing by R1.14 per litre and diesel dropping by between R1.12 (50ppm) and R1.14 (500ppm).
Earlier reports stated that the Liquid Fuels Wholesalers Association of South Africa had asked Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe to have the NMB metro temporarily rezoned as an “inland region”.
The DMRE said the transport tariff increase for Nelson Mandela Bay, effective from October 2, was temporary.
Transnet regional manager Pamela Yoyo told the Daily Maverick that repair works were due to be completed at the Port Elizabeth Harbour by November 2024, with the berth likely to be recommissioned in the early part of December.
IOL