Beijing hikes prices for gas, diesel oil
7/10/2008 15:48
Beijingers are paying more for gas and diesel oil today.
As of
midnight, prices were up eight percent.
Beijing Municipal Commission of
Development and Reform issued a release about the price hikes late yesterday. It
said,benchmark prices for gasoline and diesel oil would be hiked 200 yuan and
290 yuan per ton, respectively.
After the adjustment, gasoline 93, the most
commonly used type of gas, now sells for 6.37 yuan (US$0.93) per liter, up 0.17
yuan from yesterday. Gasoline 97 now retails at 6.78 yuan per liter, compared to
6.60 yuan before the adjustment.
In the meantime,retail prices for zero and
minus 10-type diesel oils rose by 0.27 yuan and 0.28 yuan to hit 6.5 yuan per
liter and 6.89 yuan per liter, respectively. Gasoline 90, and diesel oils minus
20 and minus 35 also went up in cost.
According to an official with China
National Petroleum Corporation North China Branch, the cost increases were not
large.
"Unlike the national price adjustment taken on June 20, the price
hikes this time are regional ones which are meant to offset increased costs
borne by oil companies for providing the Beijing market with improved processed
oil products conforming with IV European standards," said the official under
condition of anonymity.
The municipal government said, since the adoption of
the IV European standards, there had been notable improvement in air quality in
the national capital.
Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform
promised to subsidize agriculture, forestry, mass transit and the taxi
industries to reduce the impact of higher gas prices. It is also urging
regulatory organizations to work hard to maintain a normal market by stepping up
inspections and dealing with price violations.
The price hikes were frowned
on by private car drivers. Liu Min, a resident who drives to work every day
said, "I have been using gasoline 93 and I have to pay an extra 50 yuan per
month because of the price hike. Take into consideration the new car ban policy
that will become effective on Saturday, I don't think it's worthwhile to drive
to work."
Beijing announced a series of post-Olympic car restrictions which
will take effect this month. They are aimed at reducing traffic and
pollution.
Under the new traffic restrictions, 30 percent of government
vehicles will be take off roadways as of October 1, said a circular issued by
the Beijing municipal government Sept. 28.
The remaining 70 percent of
government vehicles, as well as all corporate and private cars, will take turns
off the roads one out of five weekdays starting October 11.
Cars with plates
ending with 1 or 6 are banned yesterday. Those ending with 2 or 7 will be banned
today, 3 or 8 tomorrow, 4 or 9 Thursday and 5 or 0 Friday. The ban does not
apply on weekends.
The ban is applicable within the Fifth Ring Road from 6
a.m. to 9 p.m. for private cars and round the clock for government and corporate
vehicles.
The new restrictions will take effect on a trial basis on October
11 for six months until April 10. It does not apply to police wagons,
ambulances, fire engines, buses, taxis and other public service
vehicles.
Xinhua
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