Fuel prices surge in N.S. as tensions flare near Strait of Hormuz 

CITYnews halifax / By Steve Gow

Nova Scotians will be paying more out of pocket at the pumps ahead of the long weekend.

After a brief reprieve last week, the provincial regulator decided to push fuel prices higher this week.

In the Halifax area, the minimum price per litre for regular self-serve gas, as of midnight Friday, is now 196.2 cents, an overnight jump of 4.5 cents. The Nova Scotia Energy Board also decided to increase diesel prices by 3.1 cents to 216.1 cents per litre.

This comes as the situation in the Middle East continues to remain tense.

Near the Strait of Hormuz, a ship anchored off the United Arab Emirates was seized and taken toward Iran, and another was attacked and sank near the coast of Oman.

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The incidents reported on Thursday came as a senior Iranian official reiterated his country’s claim to the waterway, with another Iranian official saying Tehran has a right to seize oil tankers connected to the U.S.

The instability in the region has had a major impact on global fuel prices since the U.S. and Israel launched massive joint strikes on Iran in late February.

Most recently, the June crude oil contract finished up 15 cents higher to US$101.17 per barrel on Thursday.

One year ago in Nova Scotia, we were paying 1.45 cents per litre for gas, and 1.42 for diesel.

With files from The Canadian Press