New fuel reference price: Mon State's fuel reference price remains higher than other states and regions

According to the new fuel reference price released by the Fuel Import, Storage and Distribution Business Supervision Committee on May 29, the fuel reference price in Mon State remains higher than in other states and regions. According to the new fuel reference price, the price of 1 liter of 92 octane gasoline in Mon State is 4810 kyats, which is 260 kyats higher than in Yangon, 150 kyats higher than in Hpa-an, 245 kyats higher than in Bago, and 75 kyats higher than in Dawei. The price of 1 liter of 95 octane gasoline in Mon State is 4915 kyats, which is 295 kyats higher than in Yangon, 180 kyats higher than in Hpa-an, 280 kyats higher than in Bago, and 105 kyats higher than in Dawei. Similarly, the price of 1 liter of ordinary diesel in Mon State is 5160 kyats, which is 565 kyats higher than in Yangon, 460 kyats higher than in Hpa-an, 550 kyats higher than in Bago, and 390 kyats higher than in Dawei. The price of 1 liter of premium diesel in Mon State is 5850 kyats, which is 130 kyats higher than in Yangon, 185 kyats higher than in Hpa-an, 285 kyats higher than in Bago, and 115 kyats higher than in Dawei, according to the fuel reference price. "I don't know if the state government and the representatives don't know that the fuel reference price in Mon State is higher than in other states. Or are they pretending not to know? Even though the state government has changed, they haven't been able to make the fuel prices equal to other regions, let alone lower," said a resident of Mawlamyine. He also added that he hopes that the state representatives will ask questions about the higher fuel reference price in Mon State compared to other states and regions at the upcoming state assembly meeting. It is learned from the Mon State Fuel Import, Storage and Distribution Association that importers supplying fuel to Mon State are importing fuel with their own dollars because they are not allocated dollars by the state, unlike importers importing fuel at Yangon's Thilawa Port. Since they cannot purchase dollars at the price set by the state, they are purchasing them at prices close to the market price, which is why there is a difference between the fuel reference price in Yangon and the fuel reference price in Mon State. It is learned that the import, distribution, and sale of fuel within Mon State are being carried out by Myanmar Energy King Company and Ya Zar Min Industry Company, which won the tender during the tenure of the former Mon State Chief Minister U Aung Kyi Thein. Fuel is being distributed and sold within Mon State through the Puma International Port Terminal located in Katonepaw village, Mudon Township. However, U Nyi Nyi Htwe (55), the owner of Ya Zar Min Industry Company, has been charged and prosecuted by the relevant police stations under the Essential Goods and Services Law for alleged illegal smuggling and sale of fuel. In addition, fuel businessmen U Sein Tin (aka Kasin, 65), owner of Swan Myanmar Fuel Station; U Myat Zaw Oo (aka Zaw Oo, 43), owner of Miba Metta Fuel Station; and U Hla Win Khine, owner of Min Thant Fuel Sales Station, have also been charged and prosecuted by the relevant police stations under the Essential Goods and Services Law for allegedly smuggling and selling fuel illegally. Bo Bo Myint