THE authorities are investigating around 2,000 petrol stations that have closed temporarily, claiming shortages since the Middle East conflict sent oil prices surging, an official said.
Commerce ministry spokesman Penn Sovicheat confirmed on Friday that around 2,000 of Cambodia’s 6,300 fuel depots and petrol stations had stopped operating in recent days.
However, he said that authorities were investigating “whether they really ran out of stockpiles or are withholding the fuel to sell later when prices rise”.
He warned vendors who lied about why they had closed their doors would be fined or have their permits revoked.
Authorities say the country has yet to face fuel shortages stemming from the Middle East crisis, but they have urged people to avoid stockpiling.
Sovicheat said Cambodia, which relies on imports for its consumer fuel needs, has continued to receive shipments from Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia, although prices had risen since the start of the conflict.
The price of a litre of regular gasoline has been fixed at 5,200 riel (RM5.03) since Wednesday, a sharp jump from 3,850 riel (RM3.73), while a litre of diesel now costs 6,050 riel (RM5.86), more than a 50% jump. — AFP
