Thinley Namgay

Fuel prices continue to rise, taking the price of petrol to Nu 68.84 a litre and diesel price to Nu 66.41 a litre in Thimphu.

Petrol price increased by Nu 1.73  and diesel by Nu 0.66 from midnight of March 16.

The price of petrol at Bhutan Oil Distributor (BOD) in Lungtenzampa is Nu 68.84, an increase from Nu 67.11. Similarly, the cost of diesel is now Nu 66.41 a litre, an increase from Nu 65.75.

Since January this year, the prices saw a drastic increase. On January 27 this year, the petrol price at Lungtenzampa BOD was Nu 61.77 a litre and diesel price were Nu 59.69 a litre.

In a month, the fuel price fluctuated twice depending on sources in India. Bhutan has a memorandum of understanding with India regarding the price and notifies the economic affairs ministry on the first and 16th day of every month.

The price remains almost similar in all the distribution centres.

Currently, the diesel price at Damchen Petroleum Distributors at Changzamtog is Nu 66.45, an increase from Nu 65.79.  However, petrol was out of stock yesterday. Officials said that it would soon reach from Phuentsholing. Before March 16 midnight, a litre of petrol costs Nu 67.29 at Changzamtog.

The prices of gas also saw a hike.

As of yesterday, subsidised gas cost Nu 821 and non-subsidised gas cost Nu 893 in the capital. In January, subsidised gas cost Nu 719 and non-subsidised gas cost Nu 788.