‘Drop petrol price or else’
OFFICIALS from the General Department of Consumer Protection, Competition and Fraud Repression have hauled up seven petrol stations for not reducing petrol prices as mandated by the Ministry of Commerce.
The owners of the seven petrol stations have been fined and told to sign contracts ensuring that their prices are consistent with national mandates.
Other petrol stations are facing harsher legal repercussions after they were found to be selling fake petrol at fraudulent volume levels.
On Tuesday, the department’s director-general Phan Oun said after the ministry announced the reduction in petrol prices, its officials launched a campaign to disseminate the message and monitor prices in provinces across the country.
Oun said: “We have fined four petrol stations i n Kampong Speu prov ince and three in Takeo province. We have a lso shared the announcement on our Facebook page, in cooperation wit h t he prov incia l Department of Commerce.”
He said the mass dissemination of the announcement is aimed at benefitting the people, but some businessmen are still selling petrol at higher prices.
If policy implementations aren’t carried out promptly, Oun said, it will be investigated by his officials and action taken.
“We will not allow a delay of more than one to two days after the price announcement has been made by the ministry.
“That’s our grace period, as the notifications may arrive later at petrol stations located in faraway provinces. Standard petrol stations should immediately change their prices after receiving the notification,” he said.
Oun said the current reduced price of petrol is effective from April 1 to April 15. The ministry will update the prices with announcements every two weeks, with the next announcement set for April 16.
Besides implementing the new prices, petrol station owners must ensure that their petrol is of standard quality and sold at the correct volume.
Oun said if there is no implementation after the announcements, he will take legal action under the Law on Consumers Protection and Prakas of Inter-ministries No 172 dated June 22, 2018, on the Determination of Formula for Adjusting Petrol Retail Price in Cambodia.
A report by his department said there are three petrol stations in Prey Kabbas and Bati districts in Takeo Province selling at different prices than the ones outlined by the ministry.
“Three petrol stations and depots were selling at high prices, despite the notification given by the ministry.
“Each petrol station or depot was fined two million riel ($500) and the three owners were made to sign a contract ordering them to correct their prices,” the report said.
On April 2, the department inspected eight petrol stations and depots along National Road 4 in Kampong Speu province.
The officials analysed the cetane levels of the diesel fuel and inspected the measurement scales at each station.
They found that four stations had sold petrol which didn’t conform to the standards of quality, quantity, and price set by the ministry.
Three of the petrol stations were fined two million riel ($500) while the other station was fined one million riel.