Bangkok (VNA) - The Thai Ministry ofEnergy will liberalise oil imports by allowing private companies to importfinished oil products, to provide more options to consumers in the wake of highenergy prices, Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga was cited by localmedia as saying.
He said that the responsibility of the Energy Ministryis to regulate the oil business, to ensure fair competition while enabling thepublic to have access to fuel oil at reasonable prices.
Therefore, he noted, any private companies which havethe storage facilities and are capable of the importation should be allowed todo so, instead of relying on the current oil suppliers.
Pirapan made clear that the Energy Ministry has toregulate the business, to ensure that the operators can procure oilconveniently and quickly to meet domestic demand, but not issue regulations toobstruct oil procurement.
Cutting energy prices, including oil prices, is one ofthe top priorities of the government under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Notimeframe has been set for the implementation of this policy though.
Thailand is both an importer of crude oil and finishedoil products and an exporter of finished oil products. In 2020, the countryexported finished oil products worth about 165 billion THB (4.65 billion USD)to neighbouring countries, such as Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore,Indonesia and the Philippines./.
He said that the responsibility of the Energy Ministryis to regulate the oil business, to ensure fair competition while enabling thepublic to have access to fuel oil at reasonable prices.
Therefore, he noted, any private companies which havethe storage facilities and are capable of the importation should be allowed todo so, instead of relying on the current oil suppliers.
Pirapan made clear that the Energy Ministry has toregulate the business, to ensure that the operators can procure oilconveniently and quickly to meet domestic demand, but not issue regulations toobstruct oil procurement.
Cutting energy prices, including oil prices, is one ofthe top priorities of the government under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Notimeframe has been set for the implementation of this policy though.
Thailand is both an importer of crude oil and finishedoil products and an exporter of finished oil products. In 2020, the countryexported finished oil products worth about 165 billion THB (4.65 billion USD)to neighbouring countries, such as Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore,Indonesia and the Philippines./.
VNA
