Petrol prices dip below $3 a litre in capital, but by how much depends on where you fill up – صحيفة الصوت

Wellington petrol prices have dropped below $3 per litre after the Government continued fuel tax relief and questioned fuel companies’ “historically high” profit margins.

The price of 91 octane across the Wellington region varied on Tuesday with the cost per litre starting at $2.77 at Pak ‘n Save Porirua (before the 6c a litre discount if you buy groceries) with one of the most expensive at BP Hutt Road Truckstop at $3.11, according to petrol app Gaspy.

It was a busy afternoon at the recently opened NPD Porirua. Its price for 91 octane petrol was $2.77 per litre, and $2.91 for a litre of 95 octane.

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WelTec student Jensen Le Sueur​ needed $150 ​to fill up his Subaru with 95 octane. He used to go to BP, but the price difference with NPD could be as high as 40 cents and discounts were not “really doing much these days”.

“Even with the discount, you’re still paying upwards of six cents more,” Le Sueur said. “If you are not using the discount, then you’re probably still paying well above $3 per litre.”

He said it was “about time” to continue cutting the 25c a litre fuel excise, because there wasn’t much public transport alternatives available for him to commute between his home in Porirua to the WelTec campus in Lower Hutt.

“Just because of inflation everything else is tough, but gas coming down is a step towards something.”

Rakai Tawhiwhirangi​ would rather drive an extra 10 minutes​ from his local BP station in Whitby to get fuel in Porirua because it was $30 cheaper.

The price dip came after international crude oil prices fell, while Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced on Sunday that the 25c per litre cut to fuel excise and road user charges would be extended through to the end of January. Half-price public transport fares have also been extended.

It also came days after Energy Minister Megan Woods questioned fuel companies about a “sharp increase” of their profit margins.

Tracking data by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment showed petrol margins were up from 22c to 45c a litre while diesel margins shot up from 30c to 64c a litre in the week ending July 8.

A few doors down, Pak‘n Save Fuel was also bustling with cars. Its prices were not too different to NPD, but motorists could get another six cents off if they shopped at the nearby supermarket.

Jason Ropata​ lives in Wellington but he fills up in Porirua when he does the weekly shop because groceries are cheaper. Despite this, Ropata would be ditching his petrol car for an electric vehicle.

“For a small car like mine, that [the price to refuel] is too high,” he said. “I’m sick of petroleum companies.”

There were not many drivers queueing for fuel at Wellington’s Mobil Kilbirnie, where filling up was more expensive than its Porirua counterparts. The price for a litre of 91 octane was at $2.95, while premium 98 petrol stood at $3.33 a litre.

The Government estimated extending the excise cuts would save an extra $11 for a 40 litre tank of petrol.