MYANMAR – It was reported that the junta council stopped issuing work permits, licenses, and the license renewal of oil refining industries in Magway, Sagaing, Mandalay, Bago and Ayeyarwaddy regions where PDF forces are dominating.
The junta council’s Ministry of Energy announced on May 4 to suspend the issue of new license and license renewal of local oil refinery and to halt existing operations starting May 2.
In addition, the junta council banned the fuel produced from those oil refinery industries to be transported or sold. Those who sell or purchase fuel and kerosene from those local industries would be taken into action, according to the announcement made by the junta council’s Ministry of Energy.
“In Magwe, Myaing, Pauk and Sagaing regions, PDFs are now dominating. Some made incomes from oil refining. I think the junta council issued such an order to stop their businesses. Even though the junta tried to stop the PDF’s income, these businesses would not stop completely. For example, the oil refining industries in Myaing and Pauk regions could neither be reached by the junta soldiers nor the police forces. They can’t control the territory anymore,” said a member of the Myaing People’s Defence Force.
According to the news source from Naypyitaw City, such suspensions of all oil wells and refineries would cause the local fuel prices to skyrocket and the workers in those oil refining industries may lose their jobs.
“Fuel prices will skyrocket due to the suspension of all local oil refinery licenses. The workers will also suffer. The junta regime means to cut off the local source of fuel,” said the news source from Naypyitaw City.
It is reported that fuel, obtained from these local oil wells and oil refineries, is being used in many local and regional businesses including gold mining activities.