BANGKOK, 30 August 2012 – The Energy Ministry is pleading with oil business operators to help keep local diesel prices under the 30-baht-per-liter.
Energy Minister Arak Chonlatanon said on Wednesday that the Energy Ministry will report its one-year performance statement on September 6. Mr. Arak said that the statement will list out all achievements the ministry has completed in the past year, including the energy price control, especially the diesel price which is set to go further up.
He stated that the outlook of more expensive diesel has been adding more pressure to business operators and leaving them with the marketing margin of less than one baht a liter, which is considerably lower than the sound level of 1.50-1.80 baht a liter.
Nevertheless, the Energy Minister is asking related businesses to keep local diesel price under 30 baht a liter, as the National Energy Policy Committee is yet to approve the State Oil Fund subsidy due to the volatility in the global market.
In doing so, Mr. Arak reckoned that oil business operators will altogether incur approximately 25 million baht of financial burden each day, but he promised to seek any possible assistance once the energy business outlook appears more clarified.
