Cambodia fuel crisis - Phnom Penh's tuk-tuk drivers queue for hours amid LPG shortages and soaring prices

"Tuk-tuk drivers in Phnom Penh are struggling to access affordable fuel, as Cambodia faces rising prices and shortages linked to the global energy crisis. Footage captured on Wednesday shows long queues of vehicles outside petrol stations, with some drivers forced to push their tuk-tuks after running out of fuel. “I tried to refill gas at many places, but they are out of stock. I had to push my tuk-tuk and get it towed to get here. It is hard to find LPG, and it is expensive,” one driver said. Others called for tighter regulation of fuel prices, pointing to noticeable differences between stations. “At Tela gas stations, it costs 3,200 riel ($0.80) per litre of LPG, while other places sell at 3,600 riel, 4,600 riel, or 4,300 riel per litre. They are ripping people off,” another driver said. Fuel prices in Cambodia rose to between 5,400 and 6,700 riel ($1.36–1.68) per litre on Thursday. The government has responded by cutting the value-added tax on fuel to 4 percent. Cambodia relies entirely on imported petroleum products, with no active domestic oil or gas production. The country spent more than $1 billion on fuel imports in the first half of 2025, according to reports. Global energy prices have surged following disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for around 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas. The disruption comes amid escalating tensions after the United States and Israel launched joint military operations against Iran on February 28. Tehran has since launched retaliatory strikes targeting Israel and US military assets across the region, with explosions reported in several Gulf countries."

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