Authorities must take urgent and temporary administrative measures to monitor the trading of petroleum and to prevent illegal exports along the southwest border, according to a recent dispatch sent out by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
The Central Steering Board Against Smuggling and Trade Fraud and other government offices must keep a close watch on the situation, the dispatch said.
Mr. Dung urged relevant agencies and localities to implement his instruction strictly, and report results on a monthly basis.
For the time being, no additional stations will be established at the southwest border area.
The prime minister asked the police, army, and provincial governments to make plans to break up rings for exporting petrol illegally along the borders.
Though domestic petrol prices rose sharply on July 21, they are still lower than those in neighboring countries. Therefore, petrol is being smuggled out of the country.
Gasoline sells VND19,000 (US$1.13) a liter in Viet Nam while diesel goes for VND15,000 (US$0.90) a liter. In Thailand, the prices are VND20,220 (US$1.21) a liter for gas and VND21,062 (US$1.26) a liter for diesel. In Cambodia gas goes for VND23,253 (US$1.39) while diesel goes for VND23,590 (US$1.41) while in Laos gas is VND19,040 (US$1.14) and VND18,198 (US$1.09). In Singapore, gas is VND27,129 (US$1.62) while diesel is VND23,758 (US$1.42).
