Some petrol stations have stopped selling after fuel prices rose drastically in Kalay in Sagaing Region. According to a resident of the town, fuel pumps at major petrol station chains such as BOC ran dry on Wednesday, 17 August.

“Although we have money, it is really difficult to buy gas in Kalay. I think we will have a serious fuel shortage in the future,” he told Khonumthung News on condition of anonymity.

He could not find it at several stations, including one BOC, before finally finding a litre of petroleum at the third station he drove to.

According to locals, a litre of Octane 92 costs $1.89 and Octane 95 would cost more than that.

“I have to send my daughter to kindergarten every day and we do not have a regular income, so this is a big problem for us. I think in the future we will walk instead of riding the motorbike,” said a woman from Kalay who asked for her name not to be published.

Most people rely on motorbikes as their main means of transport. A bus driver said anonymously that fares to and from Hakha, the capital of Chin State, will soon increase.