Long queues form at Sittwe gas stations as fuel shortage fears persist

By DMG 20 Apr 2022

DMG Newsroom
20 April 2022, Sittwe 

Stockpiles are running low at some filling stations in Sittwe amid reports of long vehicle queues for fuel in the Arakan State capital on Wednesday.

Local drivers and commuters lined up for fuel for hours on Wednesday amid fears that prices may further increase. Panic buying has reportedly begun, even as the military government has sought to allay concerns about fuel supplies.

Auto rickshaw driver Ko San Thar from Set Yone Su ward in Sittwe said: “I joined the queue because I am concerned that I can’t afford it if prices increase further. We will be out of business if prices increase further.”

The Arakan State military council has ordered licensed filling stations in the state to limit regular vehicles to K20,000 worth of fuel, and motorbikes to K5,000 worth of fuel, according to state resources minister U Than Tun.

The junta-controlled Ministry of Electricity and Energy has denied rumours on social media that fuel stocks are running low in Thilawa, the national fuel warehouse.

The ministry claimed the country still has 45 million gallons of petrol and 70 million gallons of diesel in stock.

Some gas stations in Sittwe have run out of stocks, however, due to the recent surge in demand.

“I just returned from a filling station. But I could not fill my car there. They said they have run out of octane,” said Ko Tun Tin from Set Yoe Kya ward in Sittwe. “So, I had to buy from a roadside vendor. The price was K2,200 per liter [at filling stations], and I had to pay K2,500 at the roadside vendor.”

U Than Hlaing, chairman of the Arakan State Fuel Suppliers Association, acknowledged that some filling stations had run out of stocks during the Thingyan holidays, while adding that fuel tankers are on their way from Yangon to Sittwe.

A litre of premium diesel was sold for K2,390, while regular diesel was sold for K2,370, 92-RON octane was sold for K2,200 and 95-RON octane was sold for K2,280 on Wednesday in Sittwe, according to local filling stations.