Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul has assured the public that the increase in excise tax on diesel and benzine, by one baht per litre, will not affect pump prices because will be offset by the reduction in contributions to the Oil Fund by refiners.
He said that the price increase is just an internal mechanism to adjust state revenues between the Finance and Energy ministries.
Meanwhile, Excise Department Director General Kulaya Tantitemit explained that the department proposed the excise tax increase because global oil prices are steadily declining, resulting in an need for adjustment of the Oil Fund.
She also offered an assurance that the excise tax increase will not affect the cost of living.
Meanwhile, the National Energy Policy Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has agreed to maintain the electricity price at 3.99 baht/unit for the months of September through December.
