PHNOM PENH, March 3 (Xinhua) -- A Cambodian commerce spokesperson on Tuesday called on people to use fuel sparingly as oil prices have started to soar following the United States and Israel's strikes on Iran.
Penn Sovicheat, the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's Secretary of State and spokesperson, said the Southeast Asian country relies entirely on imports of diesel fuel and petroleum oils from countries such as Singapore and Vietnam, as its seabed oil reserves have not yet been exploited.
"As oil prices on the international market have increased, so it's true that retail oil prices in our country have risen too," he told reporters.
Sovicheat said that last week, retail oil prices in the kingdom soared by 100 riels (about 2.5 U.S. cents) per liter.
"Oil prices are projected to continue to rise within weeks from 5 percent to 25 percent based on oil prices on the international market," he said.
The official said that the government is closely monitoring the situation, and in case of a significant rise in oil prices, subsidies will be provided to ease the burden on petrol consumers.
At gas stations in Phnom Penh on Tuesday, both regular gasoline and diesel cost 3,850 riel per liter. ■