Ministry mulls hiking excise tax on LPG in transport sector

June 09:

THE ENERGY MINISTRY has considered raising the excise tax on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) used in the transport industry as part of the energy pricing reform approved by the National Energy Policy Council.



The increase is pending passage of the bill amending the fuel excise tax law by the National Legislative Assembly.

Energy Minister Narongchai Akrasanee said yesterday that the hike would not apply to LGP used for cooking. 

The move will see the price of LPG fuel for transport vehicles going up higher than for cooking gas.

The ministry wants to send the signal that it does not encourage the modification of vehicle engines to run on LPG. 

Motorists planning to switch to LPG should bear in mind that they would find that LPG was near the price level of other kinds of vehicle fuels. 

The excise hike is the government's attempt to treat fairly the users of LPG and other kind of fuels, he said.

In line with the excise calculation based on heat value, the Energy Policy and Planning Office has proposed to the Energy Policy Administration Committee to raise the fuel rate by Bt3 per litre to Bt4.17 per litre from the current Bt1.17 per litre.

This brings the LPG rate closer to the excise tax rate on diesel of Bt4.25 per litre. 

A ministry source said the ministry would likely gradually adjust the transport tax by Bt1 per litre. The retail LPG price is Bt12.95 per litre. It would not go over Bt16 per litre, which is still cheaper than diesel and petrol.


Source:  http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Ministry-mulls-hiking-excise-tax-on-LPG-in-transpo-30261908.html?

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