The Military Commission announced on 4 March that Myanmar has sufficient fuel supplies for about 40 days and that reserve stocks are also adequate. However, residents say townships in southern Myanmar including Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi Region, are facing severe fuel shortages and growing difficulties.
In major cities including Mawlamyine, Hpa-An, Myawaddy, Kyainseikgyi , Kawthaung, Myeik and Dawei, hundreds of vehicles are reportedly lining up at fuel stations waiting to refuel.
The problems have arisen following the US-Israel attack on Iran and reports that tankers may not be able to use the Strait of Hormuz – estimated to handle about a quarter of the world’s fuel supplies.
“At the petrol station where I’m queuing to fill up my motorcycle, there are about 30 vehicles ahead of me. They say the shortage is because fuel ships haven’t been able to dock at the port. But there are GOC company storage tanks at the port, and some stations have already stopped selling fuel. They simply say there’s no fuel left,” a young resident from Mawlamyine told Mizzima on 6 March.
The situation is reportedly worse in border towns that rely heavily on fuel imports from Thailand.
In Thailand’s Ranong, fuel has also become harder to obtain. As a result, some fuel stations in Kawthaung have closed, raising concerns among those working in the fishing industry that their operations may have to stop, a local maritime transport operator told Mizzima.
“Right now, Kawthaung is the worst-affected town. Fuel is also running out in Ranong. Since fuel stations in Kawthaung have shut down, fishing boats could soon face problems. It’s worrying to think about what might happen tomorrow,” said a maritime transport operator from Tanintharyi Region.
Fuel shortages and sharp price increases are also being reported not only in urban areas but in territories controlled by the Karen National Union (KNU) and areas where People’s Defense Forces (PDF) operate.
In those areas, according to local sources, the price of 92-octane petrol has risen to more than 10,000 kyats per liter.
“If it were still available to buy, it wouldn’t be a problem. But now the issue is that we can’t buy it at all,” said an official from a PDF unit under KNU Brigade 1, Battalion 3.
The military regime announced on the night of 3 March that there are difficulties in transporting fuel across the country. It also issued restrictions stating that starting from 7 March, private vehicles will be required to operate under an odd-even license plate system, allowing them to drive only on designated days.
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