Prime Minister Gaston Browne is warning residents of Antigua and Barbuda to prepare for the possibility of further increases in petroleum prices as global energy costs continue to climb.

“Petroleum prices continue to rise globally — we should brace ourselves for further increases and begin to rationalize,” Browne said in a social media post Friday.

The warning comes just days after higher gasoline and diesel prices took effect locally on Sept. 1, following months of government intervention aimed at shielding consumers from rising international petroleum costs. Gasoline is now EC$16.50 per imperial gallon.

Meanwhile, the Antigua Public Utilities Authority has announced that its Fuel Variation Rate for September will remain at 80 cents per kilowatt-hour, unchanged from June, July and August.

The rate reflects the cost of fuel used to generate electricity and is added to consumers’ electricity charges.

APUA has also been grappling with sharply higher fuel expenses. The authority recently disclosed that its monthly fuel bill climbed from EC$11 million in January to EC$21.8 million in July as international prices increased.

APUA had initially sought to cushion consumers from the full increase. Its calculated Fuel Variation Rate reached 88 cents per kWh in May, but the amount charged to customers was held at 70 cents before increasing to 80 cents in June.

The latest developments suggest households and businesses could continue facing pressure from elevated energy costs if international petroleum prices remain high.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: PM Browne Warns of Further Fuel Increases as APUA Keeps Electricity Fuel Charge at 80 Cents.