PM Anutin Charnvirakul is set to appoint Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas to replace Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn as head of the Middle East monitoring centre, following criticism over Phiphat’s perceived conflict of interest linked to his family’s oil business.
Phiphat has denied any conflict of interest, saying he severed ties with his family’s oil business more than two decades ago. He added, however, that he would like to step down from the Centre, which was established by the government to monitor risks to oil supplies after hostilities broke out in the Middle East in February.
The prime minister said today that replacing Phiphat would help ease public concern, adding that the government is receptive to public opinion but must also appoint competent and experienced individuals to manage the impact of the oil crisis.
He said the Centre will be disbanded when the caretaker government steps down, with a new body to be established and new members appointed.
Meanwhile, the Fuel Fund Executive Committee has decided to increase the diesel subsidy, effective today.
The subsidy for standard diesel has been raised from 18.76 baht to 21.69 baht per litre, while that for B20 diesel has increased from 21.39 baht to 24.11 baht per litre.
Fuel prices at PTT service stations today are:
- Gasohol 95 – 42.05 baht per litre
- Gasohol E20 – 37.05 baht per litre
- Gasohol E85 – 33.79 baht per litre
- Gasohol 91 – 41.68 baht per litre
- Diesel – 40.74 baht per litre
