July 10, 2008
Bangkok - Energy ministry plans to discuss LPG reserves increase with the traders in a hope to prevent the shortage in the future as Thailand becomes the LPG importer.
Energy Minister Poonpirom Liptapanlop revealed it was unofficially reported the number of LPG cars was up to one million in the transport sector.
She insisted the LPG allocation should focus on the household sector as cars could turn to the natural gas as a fuel choice.
The industrial sector and car users were urged to turn to NGVs to reduce the LPG import and the impact of price rise.
The department of energy business will discuss the LPG reserves hike with the traders soon.
Sirisak Wittaya-udom, deputy director-general of the Department of Energy Business, said the LPG reserves normally lasted for three days.
Traders have to reserve LPG at the amount of 0.5% of LPG sold in a year.
Thailand has just imported LPG since April 2008. LPG imports are up to 80,000 tons.
Thailand’s price is much cheaper than the LPG prices in the neighboring countries.
Piyasvasti Amranand, chief advisor for CEO of KBank and former director of NEPC, said the government should not sell LPG at two different prices, adding it would make the situation worse.
