All countries are experiencing fuel shortages due to conflicts in the Middle East region, while Myanmar is striving to address these problems, said Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and State Security and Peace Commission Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at the meeting on sufficient supply of fuel and efficient consumption, yesterday afternoon.
The Senior General continued that to reduce domestic fuel consumption, measures have recently been taken, such as an odd-even system for the use of motor vehicles and motorcycles and for fuel refilling, as well as the use of QR codes for fuel purchases. Similarly, in order to further cut fuel consumption, it has already been announced that government offices are to carry out their work from home every Wednesday.
He stressed that it is not possible to know how long the conflict in the Middle East will last. It is necessary to supervise expanding railway services and public bus lines to operate regularly in order to reduce fuel consumption and facilitate convenient travel for the public.
He stated that the time to celebrate the traditional Myanmar Thingyan Festival will soon arrive. Due to the major Mandalay earthquake last year, a request had been made to hold the Thingyan Festival only on a limited scale. This year as well, it is desired that fuel restrictions do not create difficulties for the holding of the Thingyan Festival.
The attendees at the meeting discussed the remaining fuel stock, more arrivals of oil tankers, efforts to purchase fuel abroad to address the fuel shortages at home, storage capacity of fuel at home, managements to distribute fuel to actual consumers, expansion of rail transport for convenience of passengers with linking additional carriages at trains, plans to run battery locmotives produced by the Locomotive Assembling Factory (Nay Pyi Taw) along Yangon circular railway, efforts to continue domestic flights, taking action against those who operate vehicles which do not follow the announcements to reduce fuel consumption and unregistered vehicles under the law, a plan to hold the walking Thingyan festival in townships, requirements to supervise systematic consumption of fuel in the Thingyan festival, taking action against offenders who fail to follow the fuel trading regulations, and systematic prevention of flowing fuel to the illegal activities.
In his response to the discussions, the Senior General pointed out that domestic fuel consumption must be managed as effectively as possible, and that efforts are needed to store reserve fuel and promote its prudent use. It is also necessary to ensure that fuel reaches the hands of those who genuinely need it, and to take action against illegal trading and black-market sales. Furthermore, efforts should be made to coordinate with partner countries to secure fuel supplies.
The Senior General underlined that the fuel required for public transport services, such as railway and highway bus services, must be provided without fail. Priority must also be given to operating air transport services to towns that are difficult to access by road, including PutaO, Hkamti, Myitkyina, Homalin, Tachilek, Kalay, Sittway, Kyaukpyu, Manaung, Myeik, and Kawthoung.
He added that it would be more appropriate to designate specific areas in major cities and townships across regions and states to hold walking Thingyan events in order to prevent excessive fuel consumption. He added that fuel purchase permissions should be eased for essential services used by the public, such as ambulances and social assistance vehicles.
In conclusion, the Senior General highlighted that measures must be taken to prevent travel costs from rising due to fuel prices, and that Tatmadaw should also cooperate in assisting to ensure convenient travel for the public.
The meeting was also attended by Commission Vice-Chairman Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Commission Member Prime Minister U Nyo Saw, Executive Chief U Aung Lin Dwe, Commission Secretary General Ye Win Oo, Commission members, Union ministers and senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief.
MNA/TTA
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