Fuel prices in the country have again increased, this time by an average of Frw51 per litre. This is higher than the early November increase of Frw30 per litre.

The increase is sending more fears that consumers and travelers may pay more for services and goods during the Christmas festivity in a country that heavily depends on fuel for lighting and running industries.

A survey carried out on Fuel filling stations; Kobil, Total, SP, KLSS, Merez among others in Kigali City indicates that petrol has increased by Frw48, diesel Frw57 while kerosene has shot up by Frw48.

Petrol has gone up from Frw636 to Frw684, diesel from Frw620 to Frw677 and kerosene from Frw530 to Frw578.

The dealers claim that this is affecting their sales turnover.

Ministry of Commerce secretary general Justin Nsengiyumva says that irrespective of the Frw51 increase per litre, government has done its best to keep the price at that. Government has increased subsidises to 100 per cent from 85 per cent.

"Without subsides, the price would have doubled. Rwanda has the lowest fuel prices in the East African Community,” says Nsengiyumva.

China’s increasing demand and the mid-east conflicts have pushed the international fuel prices up.

The secretary general however said the populations should not fear that transport fares may increase arguing the fuel price increase is ‘still reasonable enough.’

Rtd. Col. Dodo Twahirwa, Association of Commuter Taxis (Atraco) president also said on phone that even though fuel prices have been increased, their transport fares are still low.

Oil producers’ cartel Opec earlier this month agreed to keep output steady at a meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates despite pressure on it to raise production to dampen down prices than $90 per barrel, according to
BBC.