BANGKOK, July 8 (AFP) - Domestic oil and gas consumption in the five
months to May plummeted nearly eight percent amid Thailand's
devastating economic crisis, the state-run Petroleum Authority of
Thailand said Wednesday.
Petroleum demand, excluding consumption by petrochemical companies,
fell 7.9 percent to the equivalent of 879,820 barrels of oil per day
from the same period a year earlier, it added.
Total consumption of refined products fell 10.9 percent to 674,290
barrels per day, while nearly all other categories also posted
declines.
Diesel oil use declined 16.9 percent to 273,130 barrels per day, fuel
oil was down 10.7 percent to 143,210 barrels per day and gasoline was
down 1.1 percent to 127,300 barrels per day.
Jet fuel consumption was down 4.8 percent to 59,940 barrels per day,
LPG was down 2.5 percent to 54,330 barrels per day and kerosene was
down 34.6 percent to 1,060 barrels per day.
Thailand has been struck by a shrinking economy, reduced consumption
and lowered manufacturing output in the wake of the devaluation of the
baht currency in July last year.
However, the petroleum authority said consumption of gas rose 3.4
percent to 205,530 barrels per day during the first five months of
1998, spurred by increased consumption in the power generation and
industrial sectors, which grew 2.1 percent and 10.5 percent
respectively. |
