Petrol suppliers in the UAE took customers off guard and raised diesel prices by 20 fils per litre, the first increase in 2012, the semi-official Arabic language daily Alittihad reported on Tuesday. Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) and Emirates Petroleum Products Company (EPPCO) said prices were raised in all northern emirates — Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Fujeirah and Umm Al Quwain, the paper said. It was the first diesel price rise in 2012 and the second in nearly a year following the increase in April 2011. “The latest increase was enforced recently but had not been announced…suppliers said it was part of a police to liberalise diesel and kerosene prices and set them according to supply and demand and in line with prevailing oil prices in the global market.” The report said the price rise following a meeting of a joint committee grouping the three main petrol suppliers. “The committee decided to raise diesel prices by 20 fils to cover part of the costs of diesel imports from refiners.”