BANGKOK, 3 Sep 2013 The Commerce Ministry has been sending out LPG price inspectors along 15 routes in the country, to examine gas shops and loading factories. It also vows to punish those who take unfair advantage of the recent price hike.
Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach said he has instructed the Department of Internal Trade to perform price checks on the Liquefied Petroleum Gas at various shops on a daily basis and to examine the volume of gas being filled into cylinders. The teams will also make sure gas shops properly put up price labels.
LPG is not on the list of price control goods; therefore, the government cannot force retailers to sell it at a particular price.
Mr. Yanyong said that the random inspection would be a daily routine for one whole year, the period that the gradual LPG price hike is due to complete.
He reminded that LPG gas vendors who sell partially empty gas tanks or increase the retail price would be subjected to a 1-year jail term, and/or a 40,000 baht fine, adding that those who exploit the scheme and raise the retail prices to the unfair level would face a jail term of 7 years or a fine of 140,000 baht, or both.
The Deputy Commerce Minister also urged the public to report an unfair activity by LPG vendors to the Department of Internal Trade hotline 1569 or to any provincial office of the department.
