Early closing 'a success'

BANGKOK: -- The voluntary closure of petrol stations at midnight has cut fuel consumption by 5 per cent and helped cut Bt100 million a day off the oil import bill.

"The government appreciates the cooperation from service-station operators and motorists in making the energy-saving campaign a success," Energy Minister Prommin Lertsuridej told reporters yesterday.

The night-time closure was one of several measures launched last month in response to soaring global oil prices.

Of the country's 7,034 petrol stations, 3,984 are already honouring the restricted operating hours and the remaining stations are adjusting their work schedules to adopt the new closing time.

Prommin expressed optimism that world oil prices would stabilise soon following the hand-over of Iraqi sovereignty and the tapering off of speculative buying.

--The Nation 2004-07-02

Should i start laughing or crying now george .... This is indeed Thailand

This is ridiculous. What's the tax on petroleum products anyways, anybody knows?

BANGKOK: -- The voluntary closure of petrol stations at midnight has cut fuel consumption by 5 per cent and helped cut Bt100 million a day off the oil import bill.

Sure it did. I thought I noticed a corresponding 5% drop in traffic to go along with this reduced consumption of fuel. NOT.