Brunei reinforces regulations on fuel sale to non-residents
Saturday, October 6, 2007
THE Energy Division of the Prime Minister's Office has issued a directive regulating the amount of subsidised fuel that petrol stations can sell for use in vehicles and vessels not registered in Brunei Darussalam.
Effective October 1, 2007, vehicles and vessels not registered in the sultanate are permitted to purchase a maximum $6 worth of diesel a day and $10 worth of Premium 97 gasoline.
No petrol stations are allowed to sell Regular 85 and Super 92 gasoline for use in vehicles and vessels that are not registered locally, under the directive which was issued in light of the country's highly subsidised fuel products.
Government fuel subsidy last year rose to $210 million from $167 million.
Non-compliant petrol operators are liable to have their licences revoked.
The Petroleum Unit of the Prime Minister's office conducted a briefing to advise all petrol station operators and managers on the implementation of the new fuel directive, which is in addition to the one issued in January last year.
Also present at the briefing were representatives from Brunei Shell Marketing (BSM) and relevant government offices.
Leaflets have been distributed to all customs checkpoints and petrol stations throughout the sultanate for further information.
It would be noted that the directive is seen as a positive step to rein in high growth in fuel sales over the past few years.
Bruneians, however, need not worry about drastic results as "it doesn't impact locals", said Pg Hj Yasmin Pg Mohammad, BSM managing director.
Positive action has been taken by the government to curb the marked increase in the sale of fuel within the sultanate. Reports showed that diesel sales increased by 11 per cent in 2005 and 13 per cent last year.
In the first eight months of this year, diesel sales swelled 15 per cent from the same period last year.
Sales of Premium 97 gasoline rose six per cent in 2005, five per cent last year and nine per cent in the January-August 2007 period.
The increase in sales exceeded market projections. Gasoline (Premium 97, Super 92 and Regular 85) and diesel are oil products that are heavily subsidised in the sultanate.
Pg Hj Yasmin said in an interview with The Brunei Times that businesses should "look at long-term effects, not just the short term". He emphasised the seriousness of the directive and urged relevant parties to cooperate with the authorities.
The Brunei Times
Effective October 1, 2007, vehicles and vessels not registered in the sultanate are permitted to purchase a maximum $6 worth of diesel a day and $10 worth of Premium 97 gasoline.
No petrol stations are allowed to sell Regular 85 and Super 92 gasoline for use in vehicles and vessels that are not registered locally, under the directive which was issued in light of the country's highly subsidised fuel products.
Government fuel subsidy last year rose to $210 million from $167 million.
Non-compliant petrol operators are liable to have their licences revoked.
The Petroleum Unit of the Prime Minister's office conducted a briefing to advise all petrol station operators and managers on the implementation of the new fuel directive, which is in addition to the one issued in January last year.
Also present at the briefing were representatives from Brunei Shell Marketing (BSM) and relevant government offices.
Leaflets have been distributed to all customs checkpoints and petrol stations throughout the sultanate for further information.
It would be noted that the directive is seen as a positive step to rein in high growth in fuel sales over the past few years.
Bruneians, however, need not worry about drastic results as "it doesn't impact locals", said Pg Hj Yasmin Pg Mohammad, BSM managing director.
Positive action has been taken by the government to curb the marked increase in the sale of fuel within the sultanate. Reports showed that diesel sales increased by 11 per cent in 2005 and 13 per cent last year.
In the first eight months of this year, diesel sales swelled 15 per cent from the same period last year.
Sales of Premium 97 gasoline rose six per cent in 2005, five per cent last year and nine per cent in the January-August 2007 period.
The increase in sales exceeded market projections. Gasoline (Premium 97, Super 92 and Regular 85) and diesel are oil products that are heavily subsidised in the sultanate.
Pg Hj Yasmin said in an interview with The Brunei Times that businesses should "look at long-term effects, not just the short term". He emphasised the seriousness of the directive and urged relevant parties to cooperate with the authorities.
The Brunei Times
Business Besides Oil
