PHNOM PENH: Retail fuel prices in Cambodia rose again on Tuesday (May 19) as tensions in the Middle East has persisted, the Ministry of Commerce said.
In an announcement, the ministry said a litre of regular gasoline is priced at 5,400 riels (US$1.34) from this Tuesday until the next notice, up 4.85 per cent from 5,150 riels ($1.28) a week ago.
Diesel costs 5,450 riels ($1.36) per litre, up 4.8 pe rcent from 5,200 riels ($1.3), it added.
Since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, the prices of regular gasoline and diesel in Cambodia increased by 40 per cent and 41.5 per cent, respectively, according to the ministry.
Eng Kok Thay, a secretary of state of Cambodias Council of Ministers, said the ongoing Middle East tensions have directly threatened the energy security of Asia-Pacific nations, which depend heavily on Gulf oil flows.
He said Cambodia in particular has paid nearly $100 million due to price hikes and the government measures to lower them for consumers.
The country entirely relies on imported petroleum and diesel, as its seabed oil reserves have not been exploited yet. - Xinhua
