PHNOM PENH, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Ministry of Commerce on Friday called on people to avoid stockpiling fuel, saying that storing fuel without technical standards could pose fire risks.
In a statement, the ministry advised all fuel distributors, gas station operators, and consumers to comply with technical standards for the sales, purchases and storage of fuel to avoid any possible dangers.
The statement said authorities will routinely monitor fuel sales at gas stations to ensure that they abide by technical standards and to prevent them from raising fuel prices irregularly.
The statement came after some consumers rushed to purchase fuel for stockpile amid the escalation of the Middle East conflict.
Retail oil prices in the kingdom soared this week, as they are expected to keep rising in the coming weeks. The Southeast Asian country entirely relies on imported diesel and petroleum. ■