Mon State is experiencing a severe shortage of diesel and gasoline, with fuel now being sold in limited rations. This scarcity is causing difficulties across various industries.
Fuel shipments from Yangon have decreased, and private fuel transporters are facing arrests at city checkpoints. As a result, obtaining diesel has become increasingly difficult, according to consumers.
Currently, gasoline is being sold at a rationed rate—20,000 kyats per car and 5,000 kyats per motorcycle—affecting long-haul buses and cargo trucks.
A driver from Paung Township said, “Both gasoline and diesel are in short supply again. Nearly all stations are out of fuel, so they are selling only in small amounts. The diesel situation is worse due to reduced supplies from Yangon. Cargo and highway truck drivers are struggling. Prices have gone up slightly, but not drastically.”
Since yesterday, the military junta has been actively seizing fuel shipments at security checkpoints in Paung, Mawlamyine, and Thanbyuzayat without providing any justification.
Additionally, sources report that fuel allocations for Mon State are being purchased by the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and illegally transported to Myawaddy and Three Pagodas Pass along the Thai-Myanmar border. This diversion is contributing to the worsening diesel shortage in townships across Mon State.
The fuel crisis is particularly affecting the salt production industry.
A salt farmer from Thanbyuzayat said, “This salt season, we’re already struggling with labor shortages, and now we can’t even pump seawater into our salt pans because there’s no diesel for our water pumps. Previously, if Thanbyuzayat ran out of fuel, we could buy it in Mawlamyine or Mottama. But now, with fuel restrictions at checkpoints, we’re facing a complete diesel shortage.”
If the restrictions continue and fuel supplies remain cut off, salt farmers plan to formally request permission from authorities to purchase fuel legally.
Meanwhile, in northern Ye Township, electricity distribution has been temporarily suspended from 11 AM to 5 PM daily since February 15 due to the diesel shortage.
The fuel crisis is affecting nearly all townships in Mon State, with small and medium-sized businesses, as well as farmers, fearing a complete halt in operations due to a lack of diesel and gasoline.
The shortage is also linked to Thai authorities cracking down on online scam operations at the Myanmar border, prompting fuel allocations meant for Mawlamyine and Hpa-An to be smuggled into Myawaddy and Three Pagodas Pass instead.
