Motorcycle taxi drivers join scheme

Motorcycle taxi drivers join scheme

About 70,000 motorcycle taxi drivers are expected to use energy credit cards by the year-end as the programme initiated by the government is extended to cover low-income petrol consumers.

The Energy Ministry yesterday kicked off the second phase of the scheme, with 3,000 card holders already approved out of 30,000 who have sent applications since August.

The card gives an attractive 3-baht discount per litre for refuelling with gasohol 91 at petrol stations of energy giant PTT Plc, said Dr Wichianchot Sukchotrat, vice-minister for energy.

Only 10% of applicants were approved because the rest did not have a public driving licence, he said.

"The card will not only give additional liquidity to motorcycle taxi drivers but will also promote greater consumption of ethanol-based fuels," he said.

He said the government had tried very hard to convince motorcycle taxi drivers to use gasohol instead of standard petrol as they believed gasohol would harm their engines.

Late last year, the government launched a credit card for compressed natural gas (CNG) for taxi drivers when fuel prices were high and the natural gas for vehicles (NGV) price was increasing by 50 satang a kilogramme each month.

The programme, which offers a credit line of 3,000 baht per card from Krung Thai Bank with a repayment period of 45 days, will be extended to cover taxi drivers upcountry next year, Dr Wichianchot said.

Cardholders are entitled to a 2-baht discount per kg with a ceiling of 3,000 baht a month. The value goes up to 5,000 baht a month for cardholders who have good track records for repayment.

About 57,000 taxi drivers use the cards.

The Transport Ministry estimates there are 200,000 motorcycle taxis in Greater Bangkok, plus 100,000 taxis and more than 20,000 tuk-tuks and vans.

Energy analyst Manoon Siriwan hailed the programme, saying it will help curb loan sharks.

"Nonetheless, the government needs to communicate more clearly that the programme is not a gift voucher or gift money. It's a credit card that you have to pay for," said Mr Manoon.

Ansusorn Sangnimnuan, president of majority-state-owned Bangchak Petroleum Plc, said the company has been approached to take part in the second phase but is waiting for more details from the Energy Ministry.

"With some clarity about who will be responsible for loans not repaid, Bangchak will be willing to be involved in this programme," he said.

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