December will see an all-round increase in fuel prices with petrol shooting up by 5c per litre, diesel 3c and household gas cylinders by more than a euro. Enemalta yesterday blamed the hefty fuel price increase on the euro’s unfavourable exchange rate with the dollar. It was the “major factor” driving petrol and diesel prices higher, the public corporation said.

As of today, the pump price of unleaded petrol will be €1.27 per litre while diesel will retail at €1.15 per litre. Lead replacement petrol, which will no longer be sold next year, also saw its price increase by 5c and is selling at €1.34 per litre.

These increases come hot on the heels of a 3c per litre hike in the excise tax on fuel announced in the Budget and a 1c increase in the price of diesel last month.

This means the same amount of fuel bought for €20 before the Budget now costs motorists €21.34 if it is petrol and €21.64 if it is diesel.

Kerosene also increased by 3c and gasoil used for heating purposes saw no change in price.

Gas cylinder prices rose by almost 10 per cent with private company Liquigas Malta Ltd blaming the rise on an “upsurge” in the price of butane, which is the main component in the mix product used in Malta.

The price of 10kg cylinder of LPG increased by €1.20 and is now selling at €13.20 while a 12kg cylinder, commonly used in households, now sells at €15.60, up by €1.40.

The price of LPG sold in bulk increased by 15c per kilo and is now selling at €1.45.

The company said difficulties at a number of refineries led to supply problems while the onset of cold weather increased demand and caused prices to move upwards. LPG price was also affected by the unfavourable euro-dollar exchange rate.