Thai government not yet scrap state oil fund

BANGKOK, March 13 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra says that her government has not yet decided to scrap the state oil fund, pending the Ministry of Energy's thorough study on pros and cons and a resolution of the National Energy Policy Committee. Yingluck explained that before a final decision is made whether or not the state oil fund will be scrapped, she will carefully consider the Ministry of Energy's detailed study and relevant information and will then discuss with the National Energy Policy Committee, as she is aware of the gravity of the final decision subsequently and does not want a short-term problem to become a long-term one. The Pheu Thai premier promised that she will immediately inform the public when the final decision is officially made, but in the meantime, she has instructed the Energy Minister to keep a close watch on updates, amid world oil price hikes, to minimize impacts from the rising costs of living on local people and to launch a public campaign to promote energy conservation and wider use of renewable energy in the country. (TNA)