Myanmar Petroleum Trade Association (MPTA) urges the government to strictly enforce the recently enacted petroleum and petroleum products laws and regulation

Myanmar Petroleum Trade Association (MPTA) secretary U Win Myint has expressed the need for the government to strictly enforce the recently enacted petroleum and petroleum products law in light of the widespread practice of retailers selling a mixture of imported and local fuel. Dr Myint stated the practice was tarnishing stations which adhere to the law and sell the correct quality fuel.

The Petroleum and Petroleum Products Law was signed and enacted by then-President U Htin Kyaw on August 1, 2017. It contains provisions on the importation, exportation, transportation, storage and the entire supply chain.

“Some stations sell the fuel after being mixed with local products. Due to some greedy businessmen, the others cannot compete with them in prices and all as the group are being criticised for poor quality. So, we are calling for enforcement of the enacted law,” Dr. Win Myint said.

Dr Myint said retailers had been instructed to add a pigment or colour to local petroleum products, so consumers could distinguish between petroleum products and imported ones, but this is not enforced in reality.

Myanmar Petroleum Trade Association (MPTA) secretary U Win Myint has expressed the need for the government to strictly enforce the recently enacted petroleum and petroleum products law in light of the widespread practice of retailers selling a mixture of imported and local fuel. Dr Myint stated the practice was tarnishing stations which adhere to the law and sell the correct quality fuel.

The Petroleum and Petroleum Products Law was signed and enacted by then-President U Htin Kyaw on August 1, 2017. It contains provisions on the importation, exportation, transportation, storage and the entire supply chain.

“Some stations sell the fuel after being mixed with local products. Due to some greedy businessmen, the others cannot compete with them in prices and all as the group are being criticised for poor quality. So, we are calling for enforcement of the enacted law,” Dr. Win Myint said.

Dr Myint said retailers had been instructed to add a pigment or colour to local petroleum products, so consumers could distinguish between petroleum products and imported ones, but this is not enforced in reality.

“We will work on quality and standards. If there is an organisation to control it, the law can be implemented within three months for quality and standard control,” he said.

Standard measuring cups should also be made easily available by the association at all gas stations for anyone to check, he said.

There are over 2,000 gas stations in Myanmar and about 600,000 tonnes of automotive fuel are being imported monthly.

In addition, it has been urged that foreign companies should be allowed to enter the market without restriction.  

“When inviting foreign investment for the petroleum products sector, it should be for the factories which can refine crude oil and produce petrol and diesels. We encourage this liberalisation. It shouldn’t only be for import and distribution,” U Htin Aung Kyaw who works at as an assistant manager at a petroleum station told The Myanmar Times. 

According to the daily price statements of the association, the price of one litre of diesel on May 23 was  K900 for 500ppm, K915 for 10 ppm, K865 for 92 ron petrol and  K915 for 95 ron petrol. On May 28, prices had risen to K905 for 500ppm of diesel, K920 for 10ppm, K867 for petrol 92 ron and K917 for petrol 95 ron.

(The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/petroleum-trade-group-urges-govt-enforce-regulation.html )

​