ENERGY

The Energy Policy Committee approved a hike yesterday in the fee levied on petrol and diesel sales to the state Oil Fund on the back of easing oil prices.

Kurujit: Will boost Oil Fund’s take by a third

The move also mitigates the financial burden of the fund that now heavily subsidises liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Levy collection on pure petrol will increase by 50 satang to five baht per litre, while diesel will hike to 30 satang to 1.2 baht per litre.

The increases takes effect today.

Kurujit Nakornthap, the energy deputy permanent secretary, said the new levy rate will raise contributions to the fund by another 20 million baht per day to 80 million baht.

The fund helps subsidise 3-4 billion baht per month in LPG prices.

Levy collection on gasohol will remain unchanged in order to encourage the use of biofuel.

The levy on gasohol 91 stands at 60 satang a litre, while gasohol 95 is 2.20 baht per litre.

Gasohol 91 was quoted at 35.48 baht per litre yesterday, with gasohol 95 at 37.23 baht, while regular petrol and premium petrol were at 41.05 baht and 45.60 to 45.90 baht per litre, respectively.

Dubai crude oil closed at US$101.60 per barrel yesterday, down by $1.80, while Singapore's petrol price was quoted at $115.20, down by $1.93.

High-speed diesel was down by $1.42 to $115.78 per barrel.

Suthep Liumsirijarern, secretary-general of the Energy Policy and Planning Office, said Eppo will also cut LPG prices for the industrial sector by 7.2% to 27.89 baht per kilogramme, in line with easing global prices.

Saudi Arabia's LPG price dropped yesterday to $714 per tonne from an average of $844 last month.