Tanzania Cuts Fuel Prices for Six Months in a Row

Tanzania slashed retail prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene for the sixth straight month on Wednesday citing lower import costs, the energy regulator said, in a move likely to further ease inflationary pressures.

Fuel costs are the second-biggest drivers of commodity price moves in the country after food.

The Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) said it had cut the price of petrol in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam by 6.57 percent to 1,652 shillings, while diesel fell by 8.49 percent to 1,563 shillings.

Kerosene was reduced by 8.08 percent to 1,523 shillings a litre, the regulator said.

The adjustments take place with immediate effect and will be in force for a month until a new price cap is issued.

"The continuing drop in the retail and wholesale local prices has been caused by a continued trend of falling world oil market prices," EWURA said in a statement.

Tanzania's year-on-year inflation fell in January for the fifth straight month to 4.0 percent from 4.8 percent in December, due to slower increases of commodity prices.

Reporting by Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala