Thai government to relax rules

The Thai government may let petrol stations stay open past 10 pm. The early closing time, imposed in 2005, has done little to reduce fuel consumption. The reduced hours also made it inconvenient for people who worked at night, said Metta Banturngsuk, director of the Energy Policy and Planning Office. “We think the oil-price crisis is over so we can cancel some measures that did not really support the reduction of fuel consumption,” he said. On the same note, officials are also considering scrapping a rule that required owners of large billboards to turn off their lights after 10 pm. (November 6, 2006)