Laos orders checks of fuel supplies following panic buying

Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Chanthaboun Soukaloun (right) inspects a fuel storage facility at a petrol station in Vientiane. - Vientiane Times/ANN

VIENTIANE: The government is carrying out checks on the amount of fuel stored at petrol stations around the country after panic buying triggered by Middle East tensions raised concerns about fuel supply.

Commerce officials in Vientiane and provincial departments have begun inspections of petrol stations and fuel businesses following a notification issued by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.