MOTORISTS’ discontent is again on the rise as Petrojam this week increased its ex-refinery gasoline prices by $1.99 per litre and diesel by $1.97 per litre.

Petrojam now sells octane 87 for approximately $101 per litre and octane 90 for $103 per litre, while diesel is sold for $105 per litre from the refinery.

This week’s increase is the third from the oil refinery following a drop of approximately $4.10 per litre on octane 87 and 90 four weeks ago.

Last week Petrojam increased gas prices by 96 cents per litre and the week before $1.05 was tacked on to the ex-refinery price.

In recent months motorists have repeatedly charged that gas prices in Jamaica are not in keeping with the international movement of oil.

But as the grumbling continues Petrojam general manager Winston Watson has insisted that prices have in fact started to increase internationally.

“The market reacted to the downgrade of the US some weeks ago hence the drop then, but things have settled and prices are again going up,” Watson said.

He added that the movement of crude oil prices should not be used solely to arrive at a conclusion on local gasoline prices.

“We don’t sell crude oil, it’s a part of the process, but it’s not solely what determines the final price,” Watson asserted.

In the meantime, prices at the pumps are projected to soar closer to the $120 per litre mark at service stations islandwide.