Many more Thailand LPG stations now Bangkok Post: 17 Feb 2011 The number of stations providing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the country rose from 665 last year to 988 in January this year, Energy Business Department director-general Peerapol Sakarin said on Wednesday.
Mr Peerapol said the increase was due to the government's decision to cap the LPG price.
There was a steady rise in the logistics sector's demand for LPG, while LPG consumption continued to grow in every country, he said.
About 538,344 tonnes of the fuel were used in January. This was a 24.4 per cent increase on the same period last year.
LPG consumption for the household use rose 9.7 per cent year-on-year at 218,692 tonnes in January. The industrial sector used 64,555 tonnes, up 4.8 per cent, the automotive sector used 66,795 tonnes, up 20.9%, and the petrochemicals sector used 188,302 tonnes, up 34.5 per cent.
Thai Chamber of Commerce chairman Dusit Nontanakorn said eventually floating the LPG price would be a good option, as it would be in line with global market mechanisms and reflect its actual cost.
However, the price should not be floated anytime soon as it would affect business competitiveness in the country.
The government should cap the price for one to two more years to allow businesses adapt to the changes and seek new alternative energy sources, he said.
The TCC chairman said a delay would help reduce the number of workers being laid off during the current economic siuation.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/221947/lpg-stations-rise-to-nearly-1000----------------------------------------
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FTI urges extended government LPG price subsidy for 3-5 yearsวันพฤหัสบดี ที่ 17 ก.พ. 2554BANGKOK, Feb 17 – The government should extend its subsidy of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices in the industrial sector for 3-5 years to ease a possible mass layoff of workers employed by small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in the glass and ceramic industries, according to Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) Chairman Payungsak Chartsuthipol.
He said the planned LPG price float in the industrial sector in July would fuel production costs in the sector. The LPG price hike by 1 baht per kilogram would raise production costs by 1.3-1.4 per cent.
At present, he said, SME glass and ceramics manufacturers consume 140,000-150,000 tons of LPG annually.
Should LPG prices in the industrial sector be allowed to float, the glass and ceramics industries would be adversely affected with a possible mass layoff of some 60,000-70,000 workers.
Because of this, he said, the government should postpone its plan to float LPG prices in the industrial sector for 3-5 years or so to reduce the possible impacts.
Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) Chairman Dusit Nontanakorn said the government’s plan for the LPG price float in July would definitely impact entrepreneurs using LPG as fuel.
To reduce the impact, the government should allow LPG prices to increase gradually and give the entrepreneurs a leeway at least 1-2 years for adjustment, he said.
In addition, Mr Dusit urged the government to accelerate resolving the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand peacefully.
The situation, if allowed to drag on, would definitely affect the border trade of both neighboring countries, he said. (MCOT online news)
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