Border Closing Driving Up Gasoline Prices

The price of gasoline in the northwestern provinces has increased steadily since the border between Thailand and Cam­bo­dia was closed following the Jan 29 anti-Thai riots, taxi drivers reported Friday.

“The price of gasoline is too high. Before it was cheaper than in Phnom Penh but now the price is going up rapidly,” said Hout Ty, a taxi driver who travels regularly between Pailin and Battambang province.

Before the border was closed, Hout Ty said, gasoline was smuggled into Cambodia from Thai­land, keeping the prices along the border lower than those found in the capital.

Before Jan 29, he said, gasoline was sold for about $0.25 per liter in Pailin. The price since has reached $0.69 per liter. In Battambang, drivers are re­porting a jump from $0.32 to $0.54 per liter of gasoline. As a result, taxi fares have reached new heights to compensate for the rise in gasoline prices and a decline in the number of passengers.

Taxi driver Bun Thorn said he has gone entire days without a single customer.

“I have to increase the price for each client to 5,000 riel ($1.25). I can’t take them for the same price as before the border was closed because gasoline has doubled,” he said.

Battambang provincial Deputy Governor San Heap said Sunday the border closing was not problematic. “Only some prices from Thailand are a little higher, but lo­cal goods are cheaper. It is no problem for people,” San Heap said.

 

 

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