Fuel supplies falling short in Arakan State

By DMG 06 Jun 2022

DMG Newsroom
6 June 2022, Sittwe 

Filling stations are running out of stocks in Sittwe and other Arakan State townships, and fuel prices continue to rise, according to residents. 

Long queues formed at petrol stations in Sittwe on Monday as people flocked to fill up their cars and motorbikes, said student Maung Myo Thant from Sittwe University. 

“Long queues have formed at filling stations, and it takes at least half an hour to get your turn. So, if I am to fill up my motorbike, I have to leave my house at 6 a.m. to attend a 7 a.m. class,” he said. “I have to buy from individual roadside sellers when I am late for class. Fuel from roadside sellers is mixed with water, which harms motorbike engines.” 

Ko Kyaw Khant Oo, an auto-trishaw taxi driver from Sittwe, said he did not notice that he was getting low on gas while transporting passengers and had difficulties refilling because the nearest petrol station had run out of fuel. 

On Monday in Sittwe, a litre of premium diesel was sold for K2,680, a litre of regular diesel went for K2,650; a litre of 95 RON octane priced at K2,420; and one litre of 92 RON octane sold for K2,335. However, fuel is sold for K3,000 per litre on average at small-scale roadside fuel vendors. 

In Maungdaw, fuel prices were around K3,000 per litre, and K500 higher at roadside sellers, according to local taxi drivers. 

“We can still buy fuel. But filling stations’ stocks are running low and they will only supply the regular customers. RON 92 octane prices have increased by around K400, compared to prices before Thingyan,” he said, referring to the Buddhist New Year in mid-April. 

Currently, major fuel importers must seek approval from the regime’s Supervisory Committee on Petroleum and Petroleum Product Business Activities to import fuel, which causes delays in fuel supply distribution, according to the chairman of the Arakan State Fuel Distributors Association, U Than Hlaing. 

Prices for basic foodstuffs and other commodities have also increased across Myanmar since the military coup in February 2021, causing hardships for people from different strata of life.