The price of fuel has increased further this month since the start of 2025 with fuel consumers now having to dig deeper into their pocket to pay for fuel. According to the country’s consumer watchdog, the Independent Consumer and Competitions Commission (ICCC), this increase was due to outside factors, having a more significant impact. The is due to the increase in average crude oil price caused by reduced supply from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the fresh sanctions imposed by the United States on Russia’s supply to Asia. This then led to the Indicative Retail Prices for petrol, diesel and kerosene increase on average throughout the country. As a result of adding all the various cost components, the maximum retail price movements for petrol, diesel and kerosene in Port Moresby will increase as follows: · Petrol K4.41 per litre from K4.30 per litre in January; a 11 toea increase. · Diesel K4.27 per litre from K4.07 per litre in January; a 20 toea increase. · Kerosene K3.94 per litre from K3.76 per litre in January; an 18 toea increase. For all other centres, the maximum retail prices for each regulated petroleum product have all increase on average consistent with the increases observed in Port Moresby city. The changes are according to their quarterly approved domestic freight rates for the first quarter of 2025, and their respective annual retail margins for this year. The ICCC also states that as part of its enforcement and compliance of fuel prices, its Investigative Officers will conduct inspections to all service stations to ensure prices of declared petroleum products comply with the allowable maximum prices in the country. The ICCC officers will also conduct compliance inspections in Lae, Mt. Hagen, Kokopo and Port Moresby cities. Inspection Administrators in other provinces will be supported by ICCC Agents and respective Provincial Administration in those provinces.