BANGKOK, June 30 (TNA) – Permanent Secretary for Energy Pornchai Rujiprapa on Monday affirmed that prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or cooking gas would not be raised by July 1 as many expected, but conceded they would be revised within a month.
Speaking about the LPG shortage in services stations now, he said the situation had eased since Sunday afternoon as the Energy Ministry allowed dealers to bring reserve gas supplies for sale last Saturday.
He said the ministry and the Internal Trade Department had discussed and monitored the situation all along.
The ministry would hold an internal meeting to assess the situation Monday afternoon, he said, affirming however that a meeting to discuss a dual price structure for LPG for vehicles and household uses would not be held on Tuesday.
He said the Energy Policy Management Committee would meet within a month to revise prices of fuel, particularly natural gas for vehicles.
But when fuel prices would be raised had yet to be determined, he said.
"LPG prices will not yet be raised tomorrow," Mr. Pornchai said. "I don't know why there is such a news report.
"It has made owners of personal cars, particularly luxury vehicles and those with large engines modified for LPG and fuel, crowed the service stations to fill up with fuel. It causes greater difficulty for taxies with engines modified for LPG only to get the service. I want to ask owners of private luxury cars not to do that," he said.
Mr. Pornchai said the LPG shortage stemmed mainly from the implementation of PTT's scheme for an anti-accident drill exercise, which resulted in a delayed gas supply of 2,000 tonnes.
At present, many motorists have changed to use LPG since oil prices continued to rise. Local demand has increased by 20 per cent to 1,000-1,800 tonnes per day.
Concurrently, more operators in the industrial sectors turned to count on LPG, resulting in a surge in gas use by over 20 per cent.
Mr. Pornchai reiterated the ministry did not encourage the LPG use in vehicles and the industrial sector because it had considerably boosted domestic demand.
Thailand imports over 20,000 tonnes of LPG per month for local sale at only US$330 per tonne while the global market price stays at $900 per tonne. (TNA)
Business News : Last Update : 19:08:04 30 June 2008 (GMT+7:00)
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