YANGON: Long queues have reappeared at fuel stations in Taungoo, Bago Region, with residents reporting that black-market gasoline prices have climbed to around 10,000 kyats (US$4.76) per litre.
According to local residents, motorists have once again been forced to wait in line for fuel, creating renewed difficulties after several months of relatively smooth fuel distribution. When fuel sales under the QR code system were first introduced in March and April, customers often had to queue for several hours to purchase fuel.
However, for the past three months, fuel had been available with minimal waiting times, allowing motorists to buy it more conveniently.
Since around the third week of July, however, long queues have returned as fuel shortages have re-emerged, forcing customers to spend hours waiting to purchase fuel. Currently, the price of a litre of gasoline sold at gas stations is only around 3,500 kyats, but the price outside is around 9,500 kyats and 10,000 kyats per litre, making it difficult to buy even if necessary, according to residents of Taungoo.
Regarding the rising price of a litre of gasoline, a local said, “When gasoline was sold outside with a QR code system, we had to pay 12,000 to 13,000 kyats for a litre of gasoline. Later, the price gradually decreased and we could buy a litre for 5,000 kyats for a month or two. Now, about three days ago, the price went up again, saying that there was a shortage of gasoline. We had to buy a litre for 9,500 kyats in the morning. The price outside varies from place to place, and some places are selling it for 10,000 kyats. With the rising price of gasoline, it is very inconvenient for us, the hired carriers and the casual workers,” said a resident who drives a school bus every day.
In Taungoo, a gas station was able to sell fuel using a QR code system last March for between 15,000 and 20,000 kyats, but recently, due to a shortage of fuel, gasoline is only being sold for between 10,000 and 12,000 kyats when the queues are reopened. - Eleven Media/ANN
