Myanmar orders massive fuel price hike
MYANMAR: Myanmar’s military government secretly doubled key fuel
prices early Wednesday, stranding bus operators and commuters across the
country’s economic hub Yangon as drivers struggled to tank up.
Official media made no mention of the increase, the first in two
years, and station operators were at a loss to explain the sudden
increase.
Government-run stations doubled their prices for petrol and diesel,
while prices for compressed natural gas increased five-fold.
Commuters in Yangon woke up Wednesday to find many of them could not
get to work, either because they could not afford the increased bus
fares or because buses had simply stopped running due to the higher fuel
prices.
“We don’t know why this happened,” one petrol station operator told
AFP.
Myanmar’s energy ministry tightly rations fuel, with private cars and
taxis each allowed only two gallons (7.6 litres) a day.
Many people fill up their cars every day only to sell the fuel to
black market vendors, which is where most drivers actually tank up.
At government stations, petrol prices jumped from 1,500 kyats a
gallon to 2,500 kyats (1.17 to 1.95 dollars). Diesel prices jumped from
1,500 kyats to 3,000 kyats.
Prices for compressed natural gas, used mainly by the city’s buses,
jumped five-fold. Bus operators now spend 15,000 kyats for a tank of
fuel, compared to 2,800 kyats the night before.
Black market prices also doubled to about 8,000 kyats for diesel and
petrol, but many dealers said they were not selling their stocks until
they finished negotiating new prices.
The change sent bus fares doubling immediately, but many buses were
not running because their operators didn’t have enough money to fill up.
“I paid double for my bus fare today, 100 kyats instead of 50,” one
woman said as she stepped off at a bus station crowded with people
wondering if they could afford or even find a ride.
Another commuter said he only had enough money to get to work, but
not to get back home.
“It is a big shock for us. I don’t know how to get back home this
evening,” he said.
“I saw many people at the bus stop, waiting for the bus. But most
buses are not working today,” he added.
Yangon, Wednesday, AFP
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