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| Public Transport Operators Threaten to Go on Strike | |||||||||||||
| UPDATE : 28 April 2008 | |||||||||||||
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Domestic oil prices look set to rise even further this week with world crude oil prices flirting with the 120 US dollars a barrel price level. Public bus operators are demanding another price hike. This time they’ve also threatened to go on strike if the Transport Ministry doesn’t approve the fare hike request. World oil prices continue to rise, with New York crude making a new high at 119.55 US dollars a barrel before the market closed at 118.52 US dollars a barrel. This rise has led domestic oil retailers to prepare for another price hike within this week. Pump operators are keeping a close eye on Singaporean refined oil prices. Central Bank governor Tarisa Watanagase says the current world oil prices are still fluctuating within the range forecast by the central bank. But if it exceeds the Bank of Thailand’s expectation, the BoT is ready to review how the rising energy costs will affect the Thai economy. The central bank has earlier adjusted up its forecast for Dubai oil prices for 2008 to an average of 93.3 US dollars a barrel. The worst case projection by the central bank is priced at 112.6 US dollars a barrel. Public transport operators are also looking to request for another fare hike. Thai Bus Business Association president Pichet Jiamburaset reveals the association will submit an official petition for a fare hike today. Pichet says this will be the last time the association will ask the government for help. If the Transport Ministry fails to give the go ahead for the fare increase, Pichet says the association will be forced to stop operating because they are not making enough money to buy fuel. Transport Company Limited is asking for a raise of 9 satang per kilometer, while the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority is asking for 1.5 - 2 baht per kilometer raise. Transport Company Limited provides intercity bus services, in coordination with private entrepreneurs nationwide. Meanwhile Vice President of the Thai Boat Association, Parinya Rakwa-thin says he will submit a petition for an increase in ferry fares to the Transport Ministry on behalf of other Thai ferry operators. Parinya says the government had promised to allow ferry operators to raise fares by 2 baht if diesel exceeds 31 baht per liter. Parinya calls for the government to provide ferry operators with sources for cheap fuel if they won’t give the green light to the price hike. The association will call a meeting tomorrow to discuss how they will negotiate with the Marine Department about the price increase. Land Transport Department acting director-general Chairat Sanguansue has scheduled a meeting with public transport operators tomorrow. This include representatives from the BMTA, Transport Company Limited, private concessioned bus operators. It’s expected that the bus operators will be given permission to raise fares but not by the amounts they have requested. The Land Transport Department director-general says, for the long term solution, the department will give bus operators access to low-interest loans to finance the installation of NGV engines on public buses. |
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