Flood-hit fuel stations win rate subsidy

 Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said today that the financing provided by the Oil Fund will be used to subsidise the operators' interest payments to SME Bank. These operators have borrowed a total of Bt600 million from the bank. The rate subsidy is fixed at 5 per cent per annum, for a period of six years. Meanwhile, the station operators have to pay only 3 per cent.
 According to the ministry, a number of 1,200 fuel oil stations, LNG stations and LNG refilling stations are affected by floods, aside from about 900 trucks. The Energy Business Department estimated that fixing expenses would reach Bt600 million.
 Fuel station operators can apply for the financial assistance during December and March 2012.