SPECULATION is mounting that the ban on the sale of four-star leaded petrol from January 1, 2000 could result in significant increases in the price of unleaded petrol. While few, if any, company cars now run on four-star petrol, fleets could bear the cost of the banning of the fuel and its replacement by lead replacement petrol (LRG as it is called in the industry).

To recoup the fuel duty lost, LRG - which is expected to cost about the same as unleaded petrol at the pumps, as it is believed the Government is sensitive to the charge of taxing one form of lead-free fuel at a higher rate than another although super unleaded costs more - speculation is mounting that the Government may increase duty on other fuels in the March 1999 Budget by more than the already promised 6% above inflation. Industry sources indicated the Government could wait to ascertain motorist purchasing patterns before deciding its fuel duty stance.