Gasoline price: Hun Sen obtained a price reduction from local companies while thrashing foreign oil companiesBy Ros Dina
Ka-set
Unofficial translation from French by Luc Sâr
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On Monday 17 November, prime minister Hun Sen appealed to gasoline companies to reflect the lowering of international oil price on the retail price of gasoline at pump stations across Cambodia. His appeal was immediately followed by actions taken by two local companies: Sokimex and Tela [both of which belong to Hun Sen’s cronies] which announced a lowering of 200 riels ($0.05) and 150 riels ($0.0375), respectively, on the price of all their gasoline, before Hun Sen even finished his speech …
The lack of drop in gasoline price to reflect the price reduction of crude oil was denounced for the past several weeks, and up to now, nothing has changed. Such inaction led to criticisms on the government by both the consumers and the opposition parties.
“I ask that Sokimex and Tela to provide a gift to the prime minister [by lowering gasoline price]. And if they don’t want to give me this gift, they should at least do that for the people,” Hun Sen declared during the inauguration of a South Korean bio-fuel factory in the province of Kandal.
Hun Sen directly addressed his speech to representatives from the two local gasoline companies who were present, asking them to contact their respective management to obtain a quick response.
The Sokimex representative first announced a lowering price of 150 riels, then increased it to 200 riels, before Hun Sen even finished his speech… The Tela company maintained its price reduction to 150 riels per liter.
Hun Sen also thrashed the attitude of foreign gasoline companies which did not play by his rule. He then turned to the local companies, asking them not to wait for the price lowering from their foreign competitors, but instead for them to initiate the price reduction movement without fearing for their image. During a previous meeting held at the ministry of Finance, the Sokimex management justified maintaining a higher price for fear that consumers would associate lower price to lower quality. “Price can be lower, but the quality of gasoline is the same everywhere,” Hun Sen said.
“When the price of crude oil climbed pass $140 per barrel, the retail price of gasoline rose to 5,700 riels ($1.425 per liter). But now, while the price of a barrel drops to $54, the price [of retail gasoline] does not drop in Cambodia! We can understand that you have an old surplus stock, but why did it take so much time to get rid of it? […] I don’t understand,” Hun Sen pummeled. “If Caltex and Total do not lower their price, we will leave them alone, but nobody will buy from them.”
Next, Hun Sen justified the government inaction to obtain gasoline price reduction because of the need to respect “the free market and the WTO rules.”
On Monday morning, the retail price of one liter of super gasoline in Phnom Penh was at 3,900 riels ($0.975) at the Sokimex station, 3,800 riels ($0.95) for the regular gasoline and 3,700 riels ($0.925) for gasoil.
The lack of drop in gasoline price to reflect the price reduction of crude oil was denounced for the past several weeks, and up to now, nothing has changed. Such inaction led to criticisms on the government by both the consumers and the opposition parties.
“I ask that Sokimex and Tela to provide a gift to the prime minister [by lowering gasoline price]. And if they don’t want to give me this gift, they should at least do that for the people,” Hun Sen declared during the inauguration of a South Korean bio-fuel factory in the province of Kandal.
Hun Sen directly addressed his speech to representatives from the two local gasoline companies who were present, asking them to contact their respective management to obtain a quick response.
The Sokimex representative first announced a lowering price of 150 riels, then increased it to 200 riels, before Hun Sen even finished his speech… The Tela company maintained its price reduction to 150 riels per liter.
Hun Sen also thrashed the attitude of foreign gasoline companies which did not play by his rule. He then turned to the local companies, asking them not to wait for the price lowering from their foreign competitors, but instead for them to initiate the price reduction movement without fearing for their image. During a previous meeting held at the ministry of Finance, the Sokimex management justified maintaining a higher price for fear that consumers would associate lower price to lower quality. “Price can be lower, but the quality of gasoline is the same everywhere,” Hun Sen said.
“When the price of crude oil climbed pass $140 per barrel, the retail price of gasoline rose to 5,700 riels ($1.425 per liter). But now, while the price of a barrel drops to $54, the price [of retail gasoline] does not drop in Cambodia! We can understand that you have an old surplus stock, but why did it take so much time to get rid of it? […] I don’t understand,” Hun Sen pummeled. “If Caltex and Total do not lower their price, we will leave them alone, but nobody will buy from them.”
Next, Hun Sen justified the government inaction to obtain gasoline price reduction because of the need to respect “the free market and the WTO rules.”
On Monday morning, the retail price of one liter of super gasoline in Phnom Penh was at 3,900 riels ($0.975) at the Sokimex station, 3,800 riels ($0.95) for the regular gasoline and 3,700 riels ($0.925) for gasoil.
10 comments:
Hun Sen is a criminal against humanity in Cambodia. He is a public enemy of humanity.
Pen Panha
@ Pen Panha
Stick to the discussion. You sound like an idiot. We're talking about lowering oil price, yet all you can do is cash on Hun Sen. Can you read? Stick to the topic. Geez... Some people are just too obsessed in judging others, and not even see what the hell they're doing.
It helps a bit somehow. But the proportion is still totally wrong.
Can anyone teach Samdech Hun Xen and his pupets on how to do calculation correctly? or to play his political propoganda more convincingly?
It's a good idea to keep the price of gas high so that people won't pollute our beautiful land and poison our water and food supplies.
Yes, I got enough about the Prime Minister. I agree with 12:52PM that we should stick to the topic on oil price. It should be 2,500 Riels not 3,900 Riel when it drops from $140 to $54 a barrel. Sokhimex is right for its low quality fuel - when you talk about fuel, it also associates with quality - that why we have super and normal. Tela is OK so far. Once after I filled my car at Sokimix Peith Lok Sang, yikes My car started shaking and of I went with my engine off on the road and I never go back to Sokhimex again - Ah cheating Sok Kong - from station to station he does not assure the same quality as some stations do not belong to Sokhimex and these stations try buying fuel from smugglers and mix with Karosene.
Do not believe this GUY. Do we think that he really want to reduce the oil price.
NO, No, Not at all. He is pretending to be good for the Nation. He is like a WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING. He has shares in those oil companies.
Actually, the Government can control oil price, but the governmnmet cannot do anything as HUN SEN is government. Hun Sen cannot Control Hun Sen.
It is a joke crying about reflection of oil price.
HUN SEN are trying to kill the poor softly.
So you believe Samrainsy than hun sen rigth? Why you don't look cambodia country before and Cambodia now? I thought you ah siem motherfucker want khmerland.
This is price fixing in colluding between the gasoline companies. This kind of practicing is against the antitrust law, but I am not sure if Cambodia has antitrust law in place; if we do, we can take these companies to court. Sue them... It is illegal...
2:19pm, in that case, u and your family should continue riding your bicycles. And should encourage everyone u know to do the same. That way, Cambodia will continue to be polution free and beautiful.
Better to create jobs...
than lowering price...
................
people need monies to buy stuffs..
Without jobs, no monies!
Unless, these stuffs are free...
100% rebate... :)
Khmer Canadian
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