Commerce Minister Cham Nimul said officials were inspecting all closed fuel stations. She warned that operators with stocks who refused to sell to customers would face fines and could have their licences withdrawn in coordination with the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
Speaking at a workshop on resilience and opportunities in governance, science, technology, innovation, industry and trade strategies at the National Assembly in Phnom Penh on the morning of March 12, she said the immediate issue was not insufficient imports for distribution but incomplete public information.
She also warned against stations falsely claiming to be out of stock while holding fuel for higher prices. She said some had closed after the government announced the following day’s retail-price schedule and reopened only when the new prices took effect. She asked people to report such cases to the ministry so consumer-protection officers could inspect and act.
Cambodia has about 6,300 fuel stations and depots; around 2,000 had announced temporary closures amid high prices caused by the Middle East war.
Written by Nget Pisant.
