Get ready, drivers and commuters alike! The pendulum of fuel prices is swinging once again, bringing with it a sprinkling of suspense. As we peer into the crystal ball of the next fortnight, whispers of a modest uptick in fuel costs murmur through the air. Yet, breathe a sigh of relief! For the astute measures taken by our vigilant Pheu Thai-led government have crafted a shield against the wild storms of early November. A steadfast commitment stands firm to cushion the blow of living-cost burdens that loom ominously on the horizon.
Let us embark on a nostalgic trip down the petrol-fragranced memory lane of November’s past. Gasohol 91 aficionados saw a gracious deduction of 2.50 baht per litre, while the gasohol 95 connoisseurs enjoyed a lighter burden by 1 baht per litre. The E20 and E85 petrol patrons were not left behind in this generous spree, with an 80 satang per litre bounty bestowed upon them. Ah, the golden days of fuel frugality!
But what does the future hold for our wallets? The spotlight now turns to the robust shoulders of the Oil Fund. A bastion of support, its financial stature stands tall, ready to shoulder the possibility of extending this gracious gasohol subsidy. Yet, this financial titan is not without its Achilles’ heel; a looming deficit of 83.02 billion baht casts a shadow as of January 21, etching lines of concern across policymakers’ brows.
Dally a moment and consider the spectacle of the Oil Fund, a chivalrous knight jousting the high costs of fuel. Yet amidst valiant efforts, our knight has incurred wounds of expenditure, bleeding 12 million baht daily to keep gasohol prices within the realms of affordability. This deficit is a tapestry woven with threads of 36.59 billion baht for oil accounts and an added patchwork of 46.43 billion baht for the noble liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). To bolster its stamina, the fund has clasped a hefty loan of 75 billion baht to its chest.
The rumour mill churns with the insistence that the Finance Ministry, custodian of the nation’s coffers, is unlikely to wield the scissors for another snip at the excise tax on fuel. Thus, all eyes turn to the Oil Fund, the potential protagonist in this narrative of price-cut continuance.
In the hallowed halls of decision-making, on the 16th of January, the Cabinet, akin to a gathering of wise alchemists, concocted a tax brew that decreased diesel tax by 1 baht per litre – a concoction that will simmer for a trimester of months, evaporating an estimated 6 billion baht in the process.
And in the midst of these fiscal machinations, one noble endeavour stands clear – the quest to arm the humble champions of our lands, the farmers and the fishermen, with low-price diesel. A weapon of economy in their daily battle, its exact numeric strength remains shrouded in the mists of policy deliberation.
So, dear reader, as you navigate the undulating roads of Thailand, fear not the whispers of rising fuel prices. Rest assured, the shield of governmental foresight and the sword of the Oil Fund vigilance are ever in place, guarding against the spectre of unmanageable costs, so that your journey – both in car and in life – may continue unencumbered.
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