There are fuel shortages in the Shan State towns of Mongnawng, Mong Hsu, Kyethi, Mong Kung, and Mongyai because the junta is not letting fuel tankers into the area.

The shortages began in late November after the junta stopped fuel tankers going to into designated areas in southern and eastern Shan State unless they have passes issued by junta-appointed tactical operations officers in those regions.

A resident of Taunggyi City, the Shan State capital, said: “Tankers are lined up outside Taunggyi City, waiting to head to towns like Mongnawng, Mong Hsu, Kyethi, Mong Kung, and Mongyai. Fuel stations between Taunggyi and Laihka are still operational, but it’s uncertain if fuel will be available beyond Laihka. To transport fuel, documents specifying the designated towns are required. Junta authorities prohibit tankers from traveling to restricted towns, leaving many tankers parked outside Taunggyi.”

There are fuel shortages not just in Mong Hsu Town, but also in the surrounding Mong Hsu Township. This has severely farming activities and some agricultural businesses in the township have been forced to suspend their operations, according to a resident of Mong Hsu Township who spoke to SHAN.

She said: “In downtown Mong Hsu, fuel stations have been closed for some time, with no tankers arriving for about a week. Small retail shops remain open, but only for limited hours. The fuel shortage is affecting areas from here to Mongnawng. When fuel is scarce, all agricultural activities suffer. Corn cannot be sold, and renting a tractor for farming costs around 100,000 MMK per hour due to high fuel prices, making it economically unfeasible. As a result, all operations have come to a halt.”

The fuel shortages in Mong Hsu Township have also caused problems to the transport sector.

The towns of Mongnawng, Mong Hsu, Kyethi, Mong Kung, and Mongyai which have been particularly badly affected by the fuel shortages are areas where the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) operates.

To make matters worse, large petrol stations throughout Myanmar cannot operate until they re-register their licences. Fuel wholesalers currently also have quotas restricting the amount of fuel they can sell and as a result some petrol stations that are now no longer receiving fuel from the wholesalers have been forced to close.

In Shan State, junta troops are thoroughly checking Tanker driver’s passes and other identification documents at the four-mile checkpoint in. Taunggyi City, the Kengtun Town checkpoint in eastern Shan State and the checkpoint on Tarkaw Bridge which links the townships of Kunhein and Minepyin and also marks the border between southern and eastern Shan State.

Junta-operated checkpoints in towns across southern and eastern Shan State are also restricting the flow of other goods to northern Shan State, further exacerbating people’s suffering.