PHNOM PENH, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) of Cambodia has subsidized about 47 million U.S. dollars a month to minimize the impact of rising fuel prices caused by the Middle East conflict, said its news release on Wednesday.
The subsidies have been made through the reduction of import duties and taxes on oil and gas, and the reduction of import duties on electric vehicles, passenger plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, electric stoves, and solar-powered devices.
"These measures have been taken to ease the burden of businesspeople and common consumers in the face of rising global fuel prices," the news release said, adding that the subsidies were also to ensure the sustainability of oil and gas supply.
A liter of diesel in Cambodia is now priced at 8,200 riels (2.05 dollars), up 113 percent from the end of February, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
Regular gasoline now costs 5,500 riels (1.37 dollars) per liter, representing an increase of 42.8 percent from February's end, while the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas goes for 3,900 riels (0.97 dollars) per liter, up 95 percent.
The Southeast Asian country entirely relies on imported petroleum and diesel. ■
