Thailand considering extension of diesel tax cut, electricity subsidy – minister

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s cupboard will take into account extending each an electrical energy subsidy and an excise tax reduce for diesel, in a transfer to assist alleviate impacts of excessive power costs and residing prices, a deputy prime minister mentioned on Monday.

The tax reduce on diesel by 5 baht $0.1372) litre was final prolonged for 2 months to Sept. 20, to assist stabilise power costs which have pushed inflation to a 14-year excessive this yr.

Supattanapong Punmeechaow didn’t say how lengthy the tax reduce could be prolonged for however mentioned the federal government additionally wanted to keep up fiscal self-discipline because it had already spent 200 billion baht ($5.49 billion) on managing power costs. Cupboard will meet on Tuesday.

A subsidy on electrical energy payments will even be submitted to the cupboard for approval, Supattanapong, who can also be power minister, advised reporters, with out giving particulars.

The power ministry has deliberate a subsidy of 8 billion baht on electrical energy payments, from September to December.

($1 = 36.4400 baht)

(Reporting by Kitiphong Thaichareon; Writing by Orathai Sriring; Modifying by Kanupriya Kapoor, Martin Petty)