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Oil prices up in Northern Highlands
2007-07-05 09:01:42
By Adam Ihucha, Arusha
Fuel prices in northern Tanzania have gone up following an increase in excise duty announced by the government.
`We have increased fuel prices effective today following the budget`s approval,` said the chairman of Arusha Petrol Station and Fuel Transporters Association, Walter Maeda.
By yesterday, pump prices at most British Petroleum (BP) filling stations had gone up to 1,550 from 1,419 per litre of petrol and 1,450/- from 1,348/- for diesel.
A survey conducted by The Guardian indicated that the fuel price hike in Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions had prompted bus owners to raise bus fare in almost each route.
City commuter bus fare has shot up from around 100/- to 200/-, particularly in Arusha, while long range buses such as those of the Arusha-Dar and Arusha-Nairobi routes have increased their fare by about 1,000/ up to 2,000/- per trip.
Likewise, cab drivers in Arusha City have hiked their rates from the average 1,500/- within the city to 2,000/-, said a Kaloleni taxi driver, Andrew Malungu.
Long distance semi luxury buses operators have also made their tickets more expensive.
Prior to the hike, they had been charging 16,000/- from Arusha to Dar-es-Salaam. However, they are now demanding 18, 000/- per person.
Contacted for comments, the chairman of the Arusha Petrol Stations and Fuel Transporters Association, Walter Maeda, said the current fuel price increase was unavoidable.
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