Tanzania Raises Petrol, Diesel Prices Pump Prices

Tanzania's energy regulatory body raised the retail prices of petrol and diesel after global oil prices rose and the local currency weakened, but left kerosene prices unchanged in its latest monthly review. Fuel prices in the east African nation have a big impact on the annual inflation rate, which rose for the third straight month to 4.5 percent in April from 4.3 percent in March.

The Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) said it had raised the petrol price by 5.34 percent and the price of diesel by 5.16 percent. Kerosene prices remained unchanged from the previous review in May.

"These changes have been caused by changes of prices of petroleum products in the world market and continuing depreciation of the Tanzanian shilling against the American dollar," EWURA said in a statement. The regulator increased the price of petrol in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam by 100 shillings per litre to 1,966 shillings ($0.91), while that of diesel rose by 88 shillings to 1,782 shillings. Kerosene prices in Dar es Salaam remained flat at 1,624 shillings per litre. The new price caps take immediate effect.