Govt blamed for confusion over LPG

Shadow energy minister Jurin Laksanavisit said motorists, consumers, suppliers and vendors saw the disapperance of LPG from the markets because government leaders made conflicting remarks.

"The prime minister said the price of LPG will rise on July1, the finance minister said the price increase will happen later this month and the energy minister said there is no plans for price hike," Jurin said.

As the government sent out conflicting signals, the LPG disappeared from the markets even though there was no real shortage of supply, he said.

He said the shadow cabinet put forward three proposals for the government to tackle the issues relating to LPG.

First, the government must start to pay serious attention to the people's grievances by stabilising the LPG markets.

Second,  it should conduct thorough checks on the LPG supplies. If there is a genuine shortage, the situation should not be rectified by allowing imports but by diverting LPG from local refineries which should be encouraged to use bunker oil in lieu of LPG.

The subsidy paid to oil refineries to switch energy sources would be cheaper than compensating PTT Plc for the discrepancy on import and domestic prices of LPG.

Third, the planned price hike for LPG should be delayed for the transport sector until the refuelling stations for NGV would be 100 per cent ready for service.