Thinley Namgay
With the price of petrol dropping by Nu 4.01 and diesel by Nu 5.24, fuel price in the capital has dropped to the lowest in recent months.
The price of petrol at Bhutan Oil Distributor (BOD) in Lungtenzampa is Nu 58.63 a litre since March 16, a reduction from Nu 62.64. Similarly, price of diesel is now Nu 53.52 a litre, a drop from Nu 58.76. The price of fuel is the same in BOD, Motithang.
At Druk Petroleum Corporation Limited at Chubachu, the price of petrol is Nu 58.74 per litre at present, a decrease from Nu 62.74. The price for diesel dropped from Nu 58.75 to Nu 53.50 a litre.
At Damchen Petroleum Distributors in Changzamtog, petrol is now Nu 58.74 per litre from Nu 62.74. The price for diesel is Nu 53.50 a litre, a decrease from Nu 58.75.
Petrol price also reduced to Nu 58.64 per litre from Nu 62.49 at the newly opened State Trading Corporation of Bhutan Limited (STCBL) oil station in Ramtokto. Similarly, price of diesel is now Nu 53.40 a litre, drop from Nu 58.50.
Officials at distributor said that unlike the past years, this year recorded sharp slash in fuel price. “The fuel price drop came into effect from March 16 and the LPG price from two weeks ago.”
According to Indian media reports, the drop in price is due to the decline in global fuel prices. Bhutan imports petroleum products from India and price fluctuation could be attributed to the Indian economy.
When the Indian government raises tax rates on crude oil or the refineries in India, fuel price increases in Bhutan.
Meanwhile, the price of subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has increased. However, the price of non-subsidised LPG has dropped.
At Motithang BOD, the price of subsidised LPG cost Nu 589, an increase from Nu 579. The non-subsidised LPG cost Nu 882 at present, a decrease from Nu 936.
However, at Druk Petroleum Corporation Limited at Chubachu, subsidised LPG cost Nu 589, an increase from Nu 583. But the price of non-subsidised LPG is same as that of Mothithang.
The price of kerosene remained same as Nu 41.66 per litre at Motithang, Lungtenzampa, and Damchen Petroleum Distributors at Changzamtog.