Petrol and diesel increase of 10% to 15% expected, and what it adds to a car's monthly fuel bill

Hassan Nasr, head of the Petroleum Division at the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, expects petrol and diesel prices to go up. He says the increase, if approved, would be between 10% and 15%.

What he said

Nasr said talk of an increase has gone on for about two months. He said the global oil price has risen by about 50%, and that the state carries a heavy subsidy burden on petroleum products. He said the state takes citizens' social situation into account when it decides on fuel prices.

Asked whether prices could be held, he said no. He called the increase a matter of time. He said the fuel committee will meet in October, and that the decision has a political side as well as an economic one. If prices are held, he said, the state will carry a bigger burden from continued subsidies.

Current prices

• Petrol 80: 20.75 pounds a litre
• Petrol 92: 22.25 pounds a litre
• Petrol 95: 24 pounds a litre

What it means for one litre of petrol 92

• With a 10% increase: about 24.48 pounds a litre
• With a 15% increase: about 25.59 pounds a litre

An example car

Take a car that uses 8 litres per 100 km and drives about 1500 km a month. It needs about 120 litres a month.

• At the current petrol 92 price, that costs about 2670 pounds a month.
• With a 10% increase, about 2937 pounds a month, which is about 267 pounds more.
• With a 15% increase, about 3071 pounds a month, which is about 401 pounds more.

Over a year, and assuming the same usage and the new prices staying put, the extra spending in this example would be between about 3204 and 4812 pounds.

The real increase differs from car to car. It depends on fuel consumption and kilometres driven. A car that uses more fuel or drives more feels it more. An economical car driven less feels it less.

These figures are estimates built on the percentages mentioned. They are not official new prices.