Price freeze on LPG extended until next year
The government will extend the freeze on the retail price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for household use at Bt18.13 per kilogram until the end of next year, Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said after yesterday's meeting of the National Energy Poli
The freeze had been due to expire in September. Pichai said the price of LPG for the transport sector would remain pegged until January 15, pending the implementation of a measure to distribute fuel-purchase credit cards to drivers of taxis and other public-transport vehicles. From January 16, it will raise the price by 41 satang per litre per month, he said.
The contribution from sales of liquefied petroleum gas for use in the petrochemicals sector to the Oil Fund will increase to Bt1 per kilogram from January next year, he said.
The period for freezing the retail price of gas used by natural gas vehicles (NGVs) at Bt8.50 per kilogram, and for keeping the subsidy at Bt2 per kilogram, will be extended from October this year to January 15. The price will be raised by 50 satang per kilogram per month between January 16 and December next year. The government will also gradually cut the NGV price subsidy by 50 satang per kg per month, reducing it four times between January 16 and April next year from the current rate of Bt2 per kilogram.
It will also raise the contributions of petrol and gasohol sales to the Oil Fund by Bt1 per litre every month from January 16. The contribution from high-speed diesel will also increase by 60 satang per litre from January 16.
The council also approved the government’s plan to seek loans for the Oil Fund of Bt10 billion from financial institutions.
