Power costs expected to drop

   However, fuel tariffs for the period will be taken into account, as well as foreign-exchange rates and fuel costs early next month, said Energy Minister Poonpirom Liptapanlop.

   The baht weakened to 32.43 to the US dollar yesterday. As the natural-gas price tends to rise in line with oil prices, this may raise generating cost for the four-month period.

Road maintenance

The Highway Department admitted rising costs of oil and construction materials had affected maintenance costs for a number of roads.

   Director-general Nikorn Boonsri yesterday said his department had to reduce maintenance work across the country from 1,000 sites to 700, because the government had cut its budget for fiscal 2008 from Bt72 billion to Bt45 billion.

   "Rising prices for raw materials and oil prompted the government to reduce the budget, which affects highway maintenance," said Nikorn.