Opposition cries foul over 6-baht fuel hike
Key opposition figures lined up today to lash out at the government for its decision to allow fuel prices to rise by 6 baht per litre, effective immediately.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul convened an urgent meeting of key ministers this morning to discuss the ongoing oil crisis and the impact of the latest price surge.
The prime minister simply raised his hands in a ‘wai’ gesture but refused to answer reporters’ questions about the sharp increase in fuel prices when he arrived at Government House for the special Cabinet meeting.
Others attending included Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaichanok Chidchob, PM’s Office Minister Paradorn Prissananantakul, National Economic and Social Development Council Secretary-General Danucha Pichayanan, and Pakorn Nilpraphan, secretary-general of the Council of State.
Democrat Party deputy leader and party-list MP Korn Chatikavanij said in a Facebook post at 1am that he suspects the government intentionally released the report on the fuel price increases after the closure of parliament.
Korn said he agrees that the Oil Fuel Fund should not be used to subsidise finished oil products by as much as 27 baht per litre, but claimed that a key reason behind the substantial price hike is the government’s failure to address fuel hoarding, and that it hopes higher prices will help ease the problem.
The sharp increase will seriously affect the public and drive up the prices of many goods, he said, adding that both the government and oil refineries must make sacrifices and share the financial burden.
Criticising oil refineries, Korn said domestic fuel prices are unrealistically inflated because refineries reference Singapore market prices when determining local prices, despite being located in Thailand and incurring no transportation costs.
He also claimed that oil refineries have reaped windfall gains from rising oil reserve values and have tripled their refining margins—from about two baht per barrel to 6.33 baht per barrel—without justification.
He suggested the government impose a three-baht-per-litre windfall tax on refineries, with the revenue directed to the Oil Fuel Fund. He also called for a cut to the six-baht-per-litre excise tax on finished oil products.
Former energy minister and United Thai Nation Party leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga described the steep fuel price increases as “robbery” in a Facebook post.
Parit Wacharasindhu of the People’s Party said in a Facebook post that he now understands why the House of Representatives has scheduled only one sitting this week, with the next session set for Thursday.
Former Thai Sang Thai Party leader Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan suggested the government should have scrapped the nearly 10-baht-per-litre excise tax before raising fuel prices by 6 baht per litre.
Atthawit Suwanpakdee, a party-list MP from the United Thai Nation Party, said the 6-baht-per-litre increase is excessive, adding that it may encourage oil refineries to hoard fuel for profit.