"Parntep" Urges Fuel Price Cut, Cites High Marketing Margins & Public Burden

MGR Online•Politics•2d ago

Reader Briefing

An academic and activist is demanding further fuel price reductions, arguing that current marketing margins are excessive and fail to reflect global price drops, thus burdening consumers.

•Panthap Puangphongphan, Dean of Oriental Medical Science at Rangsit University, is calling for a significant reduction in gasoline and diesel prices.
•He alleges that marketing margins are too high, exceeding stipulated limits set by the National Energy Policy Committee (NEPC) in 2020.
•The activist highlights a discrepancy where oil prices rise quickly with global markets but fall slowly, leading to excessive profits.
•Significant overcharges, estimated at 800 million baht over two days, are believed to have occurred due to delayed price adjustments.

Overview

•Panthap Puangphongphan, Dean of Oriental Medical Science at Rangsit University and Chairman of the Foundation for the Guardians of the Nation, posted on Facebook.
•Panthap Puangphongphan urged the government to adjust diesel and gasoline prices lower than they currently are.
•Panthap Puangphongphan observed that the structure of oil prices, particularly 'marketing margins,' are still considered excessively high.
•The National Energy Policy Committee (NEPC) previously set limits in 2020 for diesel of no more than 1.5 baht per liter and for gasohol 95 of no more than 1.85 baht per liter.
•The marketing margin for diesel oil was reduced to 1.99 baht/liter after public pressure, down from 10.57 baht/liter and 4.29 baht/liter just two days prior, indicating excessive profits.
•The marketing margin for gasohol 95 is currently allowed to be 3.29 baht/liter, exceeding the NEPC's limit of 1.85 baht/liter set on February 21, 2020.
•Gasoline users are also paying excise tax at a high rate of 6.75 baht per liter, coupled with contributions to the Oil Fund of 2.84 baht per liter.
•If implemented, these proposed reductions would allow for a further price cut of 4.29 baht per liter for gasohol 95 and 91, bringing the price down to 38.88 baht per liter.

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Key Quotes

Panthap Puangphongphan

"Diesel and gasoline prices must be reduced further. What marketing margin standard is this? When Thai oil prices rise, it's immediately claimed to be profitable due to global market prices, ignoring old stock. But when oil prices drop, they don't drop immediately to help old stock."

ราคาน้ำมันดีเซล และเบนซินต้องลดมากกว่านี้ มาตรฐานค่าการตลาดแบบไหน น้ำมันไทยขึ้นราคาค้ากำไรเกินควรทันทีอ้างเป็นไปตามราคาตลาดโลกโดยไม่สนใจสต๊อกเก่า แต่น้ำมันลงกลับไม่ลงทันทีเพื่อช่วยสต๊อกเก่า

Panthap Puangphongphan

"Is it appropriate to provide compensation of 800 million baht to oil users who were overcharged for two days?"

สมควรหรือไม่ที่จะต้องลดชดเชยให้ผู้ใช้น้ำมันที่ถูกเอาเปรียบไปสองวันมูลค่า 800 ล้านบาทกลับคืนมา

Panthap Puangphongphan

"To ensure fairness, the collection of funds from gasoline users should be reduced until the global oil market situation returns to normal."

เพื่อให้เกิดความเป็นธรรม ในช่วงนี้ควรจะลดการจัดเก็บเงินเข้ากองทุนของกลุ่มผู้ใช้น้ำมันเบนซินเอาไว้ก่อนจนกว่าสถานการณ์ราคาน้ำมันตลาดโลกจะกลับสู่สภาวะปกติ

Key Entities

Person

Panthap Puangphongphan(ปานเทพ พัวพงษ์พันธ์)

Dean of Oriental Medical Science at Rangsit University and Chairman of the Foundation for the Guardians of the Nation, who is advocating for lower fuel prices.

Organization

NEPC (National Energy Policy Committee)(กบง.)

The committee that sets regulations and limits for fuel marketing margins in Thailand.

Rangsit University(มหาวิทยาลัยรังสิต)ℹ️

The university where Panthap Puangphongphan serves as Dean of Oriental Medical Science.

Foundation for the Guardians of the Nation(มูลนิธิยามเฝ้าแผ่นดิน)

A foundation chaired by Panthap Puangphongphan, involved in consumer advocacy regarding fuel prices.

Ministry of Energy(กระทรวงพลังงาน)

The government ministry responsible for energy policy in Thailand, which has been asked to adjust oil prices.

Oil Fund(กองทุนน้ำมันเชื้อเพลิง)

A fund that gasoline users contribute to, impacting the final price of fuel.

Timeline

February 21, 2020(วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 21 กุมภาพันธ์ 2020)

The date when the NEPC set specific limits for fuel marketing margins.

April 11(วันพุธที่ 11 เมษายน)

The date when Panthap Puangphongphan posted his demands on Facebook.