Drive now pay later
Politicians are raining hints that fuel prices are going up and of all the statements I find the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister’s the strangest one.
He wants diesel subsidies to be eliminated or reduced first before all other fuels are brought in line. I don’t have the key to his mind so I don’t know what he is thinking, or whether he is thinking at all. This is my take; Any increase in diesel price is felt by everyone, even if you never have to touch the greasy pump because diesel is used in commercial transportation and when was the last time you bought a piece of bread that was delivered in a petrol powered truck.
If you don’t want the less affluent to be the first to suffer then surely any kind of price realignment must take place in the petrol section first. That idea of providing two different petrol grade is the best idea so far. Maintain the subsidy on 95 RON fuels and take away the support on 99RON gas that the rich pumps into their expensive cars.
This indecision is, I think an indication of the level of cluelessness in the Government about the country’s energy needs and proof that they do not have an energy policy, despite me being told by several people that there is one.
This country needs to take stock of its energy needs for the next 50 years, look into the effect of our continuing reliance on non renewable energy sources and start developing a strategy on finding ecologically sound alternatives and lay out a clear roadmap on how we can achieve these goals.
We have to do this now or face some harsh facts.
Some say we should just use palm oil as biodiesel. That sounds like a good enough plan on the surface of it, after all we have lots of oil palm estates and the fruits can be harvested every few months. Only snag is that this may cause huge increases in the price of other products that use palm oil. Foodstuff like condensed milk, for example.
“This indecision is, I think an indication of the level of cluelessness in the Government about the country’s energy needs and proof that they do not have an energy policy, despite me being told by several people that there is one.”
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Couldn’t agree more.. but sometimes even the best energy policy and management are not enough to maintain energy prices at affordable level because the oil prices continue to rise everyday.
Very odd this ministry! it will definitely make more chaos on the consumer.By looking into the trend of oil price increase in this country. Before they start anything they better get the idea clear to the public.
The worst part is there is always no proactive approach to critical issues.
Sad
Armand, an energy policy will not ensure low prices, that is not the intention of an energy policy but it should take into account our needs in the long terms and formulate ways how the nation can remain energy independent or self sufficient it is as much a practical document as it is a strategic outline of our future
the ministry to bloody clueless. Removing the subsidy for diesel is not going to solve the issue. I seriously wonder how they are going guard against passenger cars using the truck’s diesel pump at the stations.
With the price of oil going up, the G should really reduce import duties for cars, reduce road tax and push up the fuel prices slightly.
As for diesels, they can reduce the subsidy and offer better diesel fuel. Use a different nozzle type for passenger cars and put color dye to identify the fuel used.
i think they are clueless in the matter of economics and energy solutions!
before they look into cutting subsidies, they should ensure that alternatives are in place in order to control super-inflation of goods and commodities.
the biggest and most easiest way:
1. Cut down on the road tax for hybrid cars
2. Cut down on the duties for hybrid cars
there would be no protons selling if people cant afford petrol anyway! so stop the protection of the bad quality cars that cant compete anywhere!