Katherine fuel price hits $2, NRMA reports prices won't lower anytime soon

On March 7, Katherine Woolworths Ampol and United both upped prices to 199.9c/l, while Puma's price is a little lower at 195.7c/l and Coles Express the lowest with 194.9c/l.

Unleaded91 has jumped $1.05 in the last week, with fuel costing only 188.9c/l on March 1.

The NRMA expects Australian drivers will have to pay more than $2 a litre for petrol as long as Russia's war on Ukraine continues.

Spokesman Peter Khoury said the price drivers were paying at the bowser was unprecedented.

"In Australia, most capital cities by the end of this week or early next week will see two dollars a litre on average," he told AAP on Wednesday.

"That's the first time it has ever happened. There's really no end in sight.

"We're struggling to be able to point to any factors globally that will provide any sort of short-term relief."

The sizeable jump of Brent Crude to nearly $US130 ($A179) a barrel comes after President Joe Biden announced overnight the banning of Russian oil and gas imports in what he termed as a "blow to (Vladimir) Putin's war machine".

Russia, the second-largest exporter of oil globally, has threatened to push prices up to $US300 ($A414) a barrel by cutting supplies to Europe in retaliation to heavy sanctions levelled against it.

Prices at Australian petrol stations hovered around the $1.80 per litre mark before the February 25 invasion but have spiked to around $2.

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"We have no control over this," Mr Khoury said.

He noted Australia, a significant oil producer and exporter, relies heavily on imports even though they do not come directly from Russia.

More than half of Australia's refined products come from South Korea and Singapore, according to Shipping Australia - the peak industry body for shipping.

"The latest Russian invasion of Ukraine has just escalated the increases to a whole new level.

"They (prices) have gone up about $US50 ($A69) a barrel this year alone," Mr Khoury said.

Roberto Aguilera, an energy economist from Curtin University's Oil and Gas Innovation Centre, says "much of the price rise ... can be explained by fears of escalating conflict, sanctions and oil disruptions".

Even though the US had taken the lead in sanctioning Russia, "many countries are reluctant to sanction Russian oil directly - for fear of harming consumers further through higher prices".

However, there might be a silver lining "despite the near-term price pain for drivers", he said.

"New oil production is still expected within the first half of the year. This should help bring crude and fuel prices down."

Mr Khoury said the immediate impacts will be felt as long as the conflict in Ukraine drags on.

"Unfortunately as long as Russia continues its aggressive war against Ukraine and with the impacts of sanctions as a result of that, these prices are going to be hanging around for a while."

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