Mauritius Fuel Prices Jump 10% After a 30% Cut Was Promised

Mauritians filling up their tanks this week are paying significantly more than they did before the last election — and considerably more than they were promised they would. On the evening of Monday 28 September, the Petroleum Pricing Committee (PPC) — the government body responsible for setting fuel prices in Mauritius — announced a new price schedule that came into force at midnight on Tuesday 29 September. The result: petrol rose from Rs 70.65 to Rs 77.70 per litre, and diesel climbed from Rs 71.25 to Rs 78.35, crossing the psychologically significant Rs 78 mark for the first time. That is a roughly 10% increase at the pump — and, according to ION News, the actual market-driven figure would have justified an even steeper rise. **A Promise in Black and White** The hike is particularly striking given the commitments made during the 2024 general election campaign. Dr Navin Ramgoolam, now Prime Minister, was unambiguous on the subject at two major political rallies — in Vacoas on 1 May and in Curepipe on 20 October — telling voters: *"Kouma nou geyne, pri lesans ek diesel pou besse"* ("When we win, the price of petrol and diesel will go down"). At the time of those pledges, petrol was priced at Rs 66.20 per litre and diesel at Rs 63.95. The promise went further than a vague intention. On 8 November 2024, during an appearance on a private radio station, Ramgoolam was asked how large the promised reduction would be. His answer: *"Daprè mwa, li pou plus ki 30%"* — "In my view, it will be more than 30%." A 30% cut from the pre-election petrol price of Rs 66.20 would have brought it to roughly Rs 46. Instead, it now stands at Rs 77.70 — more than Rs 11 higher than when the promise was made. Alliance partner Ashok Subron, a prominent labour activist and politician, was also cited by ION News as having echoed similar commitments during the campaign period. **What This Means** For everyday Mauritians, the gap between what was promised and what has been delivered is stark. A motorist who drives regularly will notice the difference immediately. Diesel users — including small business owners, transport operators, and fishing communities — face the sharpest pressure, with prices now above Rs 78. The PPC does not operate fully transparently; its pricing formula accounts for global oil markets, freight costs, taxes, and the State Trading Corporation's (STC) accumulated fuel debt — a buffer fund that has historically absorbed price shocks but also delayed painful adjustments. Critics argue the government had room to manage the increase differently, or at least to explain clearly why the direction of travel has reversed so dramatically from what voters were told. No official statement has yet been issued by the Prime Minister's Office explaining the reversal. Source: ION News