Retailers accused of hoarding before gas price rises

Ahead of a partial float of the gas price tomorrow, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has complained about profiteering by hoarding liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), resulting in a shortage of retail supplies. In his weekly broadcast yesterday, Mr Samak said while it was normal to expect hoarding, the practice was intolerable. ''I have to say it's ingrained in their [the gas retailers'] despicable minds to profit here and there from stocking up. I use the word despicable mind to describe these people,'' he said. ''It's the way they operate. Grab whatever they can in these last few days [before the price goes up],'' the prime minister said. With some gas stations closed yesterday, taxis and many private motor vehicles formed long queues at the few that were still open on Rama III road. Most stations on Buddha Monthon, Rarm Intra and Rattanathibes roads locked their gates and put out signs saying ''Out of gas''. Taxis queue for a refill at a LPG station on Chan road yesterday. A cutback in gas supplies is being blamed on retailers for stocking up ahead of the LPG price increase tomorrow.

— KOSOL NAKACHOL The new gas price was announced ahead of the deadline. Mr Samak said the price increase would continue well into next year before it stabilises, at which point the price of LPG should not exceed 15 baht per litre from 11.50 baht a litre at present. The Energy Ministry said the retail gas shortage was due mainly to gas shipment problems at the Khao Bor Ya terminal in Chon Buri. Yanyong Phuangrach, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, said the department has called wholesale suppliers to a meeting today. The meeting will look into factors behind the LPG shortage. The meeting will also try to determine when the shortage will ease. Mr Yanyong said the department conducted random inspections at LPG stations in Pathum Thani yesterday. Many motorists complained that stations refused to sell them gas. They suspected the stations had stocked up to sell gas at higher prices.