Gasoline price rises to K13,000 in Tazaungdaing, most schools temporarily closed

Photo caption- A basic education school in Tazaungdaing Township, Mandalay Region, seen in 2025 (MOI) By Mizzima TAZAUNGDING, Mandalay Region—The market price of gasoline has surged to K13,000 per litre in Tazaungdaing Township, Mandalay Region, forcing the temporary closure of most schools near the town, according to local residents. The gasoline price hike has been ongoing for four days, and most secondary and high schools at the basic education level will be closed for seven days starting yesterday, August 1, a local parent told Mizzima. "The teachers said they couldn't come because the fuel price is too high, so they closed the schools. The gasoline price is really bad. We can't buy gasoline legally. It's been four days since it rose to K13,000. Now it's not even easy to buy," he said. Although the price of gasoline was K6,000 per litre last week, the exact reason for the current surge to K13,000 is unknown. However, local residents speculate that it is due to the Pyu Saw Htee group, under the military junta, confiscating fuel containers at checkpoints, charging transit fees, and imposing restrictions on fuel transport. The reference price set by the military junta is reportedly over K3,600 per litre, but the market price has risen disproportionately. Around March this year, the price of fuel oil rose to K8,000 to K10,000 per litre due to the impact of the US-Iran war, but it later dropped back to K5,000 to K6,000. However, the current sudden price increase is not due to any particular impact, and there is no fuel to fill up midway for nearby travel, said a member of the Min Hla People's Movement Committee. "The schools closed yesterday. As far as I know, there are five schools near the town. Most schools in Tazaungdaing Township are difficult to access. Diesel hasn't risen that much; it's mainly gasoline that has become very expensive. Due to the rise in fuel prices, some people couldn't go to school even when it was open in previous days," he told Mizzima. While gasoline prices are rising across Min Hla District, prices are K10,000 in villages far from Min Hla town, over K10,000 in Naungcho Township, and K13,000 in Tazaungdaing Township, making Tazaungdaing Township the most severely affected by the price hike, investigations reveal. In Min Hla, Naungcho, and Tazaungdaing townships, which are part of Min Hla District, fuel oil is distributed and sold only in the towns, and in the villages, it is resold from gallon containers into litre bottles. In these areas, to buy fuel oil in the main town of Min Hla, one must pass through junta checkpoints. Therefore, the Pyu Saw Htee are imposing restrictions on the purchase and transport of fuel oil, and often confiscate one of two fuel containers, making it very difficult for traders and sellers to buy and transport fuel, according to local residents. As these junta checkpoints have been extorting money from local residents, in recent days, some junta checkpoints, including the one at the entrance to Tazaungdaing town in Min Hla District, Mandalay Region, have been attacked by joint forces of the People's Defence Force (PDF). Frequent clashes occur between defence forces and junta troops within and around Tazaungdaing Township, and military convoys are occasionally seen. Editor – Thant Zaw (Thanlyin)