เปิดใจ ‘เอกนิติ’ ประธาน คตร. ถึงแนวทางค่าการกลั่น - มาตรการแก้วิกฤตพลังงานไทย | THE STANDARD WEALTH

A committee was established on April 1st, led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ekniti Nitithanpraphas, to address the current energy situation, specifically focusing on refining costs and oil prices. The committee has held intensive discussions over four consecutive days, concluding that the refining margin announced by the Ministry of Energy does not reflect the true costs during the current wartime situation. The committee found that the selling price of oil, particularly diesel, has surged due to high demand and increased "warm-up premium" values, meaning crude oil for refining also commands higher premiums. This indicates that the announced prices do not reflect the actual costs, prompting a recommendation for the Ministry of Energy to adjust them. The committee's second conclusion is that each distillery likely has "excess refining margin" or surplus benefits. The third point is to negotiate with these distilleries to leverage these surplus benefits to reduce the impact on the public by lowering prices at gas stations. The Minister of Energy is scheduled to chair a meeting today with all factories to negotiate these benefits. The actual data for these surplus benefits will be based on figures from March. The discussion also touched upon the mechanism for managing these prices. The use of a "Winfall Tax" was deemed unsuitable due to the time required for tax legislation and its applicability only to consistently upward trends, whereas oil prices fluctuate. Instead, the committee proposed using an existing royal decree law from the 1973 oil shortage, which allows the government to set prices directly at the refinery during emergency situations. This mechanism would enable the government to reduce excess benefits and share them with the public. If market prices decrease, refineries would also be compensated. This existing legal framework offers a quick and simple way to help people by delaying the impact of high prices. Regarding the specific amount of reduction at gas stations, the committee noted that the profits of each refinery vary due to differing premium production costs. Therefore, the Ministry of Energy will negotiate with each power plant individually, as a uniform standard might cause some plants to incur losses and potentially lead to fuel shortages. The goal is to negotiate a portion of the excess profit from March to be used to directly reduce prices at gas stations, rather than contributing to the oil fund. This measure aims to immediately alleviate the burden on consumers. The Deputy Prime Minister also addressed the oil fund and excise tax. He explained that the oil fund and excise tax are both mechanisms to intervene in oil prices. However, the excise tax will be collected and used to help vulnerable groups who may not directly benefit from fuel price reductions, such as those who do not drive. This is crucial for funding essential public services like healthcare and education. The oil fund, on the other hand, will focus on mitigating the impact on prices at the gas station. Regarding the quantity of oil, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Commerce Ministry are actively negotiating with various countries, including Brazil and Russia, to ensure a stable supply. This is critical because the world faces a dual energy crisis: potential oil shortages and high prices. Preparations are being made to find alternative crude oil sources and conserve fuel, with government officials encouraged to work from home and reduce unnecessary travel. The long-term strategy involves restructuring the energy sector to utilize renewable and clean energy, such as solar cells and electric trains, to reduce reliance on oil. The Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged that the world must adapt to living with high oil prices due to the prolonged war and damage to oil and natural gas production sites. The recovery is expected to take months or even years. The government's approach is to help those in need, particularly the transportation sector, agricultural sector (fertilizers), and fishing groups, through measures like B20 fuel and farm fuel. The Ministry of Finance, as a shareholder in PTT Group, has issued policy directives to prohibit stockpiling, ensure maximum oil production, secure sufficient crude oil sources, and prevent excessive profiteering by oil companies. These actions are guided by principles of good governance, considering that many of these companies are publicly traded with numerous retail shareholders. Looking ahead, the assessment is that the high oil prices are not a temporary phenomenon but a "new normal." The government's strategy is to gradually allow energy prices to rise according to market mechanisms, while simultaneously mitigating the impact on the public and supporting vulnerable groups. The long-term focus is on energy restructuring and conservation. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of public cooperation in conserving energy, warning of potential oil shortages if consumption is not reduced. He concluded by stressing the need for preparedness, patience, and adapting to a world where energy costs are higher, affecting various sectors and consumer goods.