The junta will stop issuing fuel quotas for all townships in Chin State which will lead to fuel shortages and price rises.

The junta’s Ministry of Energy informed the Myanmar Petroleum Trade Association (MPTA) of the new restrictions on 17 November 2024.

Legally fuel is only distributed by the junta and the junta sets fuel quotas for each township. These quotas can change, for instance if fuel supplies are low large cities such as Yangon and Mandalay will get their normal quotas, but quotas in other areas may be reduced or stopped. The junta has also stopped fuel quotas in areas it does not control to make it harder for revolutionary forces to get fuel.

Once the junta has removed fuel quota allocations from a township the only way civilians can get petrol is if it has been smuggled into the area around junta checkpoints, for instance by using routes through the jungle rather than main roads. Currently the junta is not making much of an effort to crack down on such fuel smuggling, so fuel is still getting into those areas, for now, but there are still shortages in those areas which also means that fuel prices are higher.

In areas where there are no fuel quotas special exemptions are made for the military and government departments which are still officially allowed to buy fuel distributed by the junta.

Regarding the fuel quota ban for all of Chin State, a resident of the Chin State capital, Hakha, remarked that the fuel quotas for Chin State will not be immediately suspended.

He said: “We can still buy fuel, although the price is slightly higher than usual. We think the suspension of the fuel quota won’t be enforced immediately.”

In Chin and Rakhine State fuel is also available from other sources because armed groups and traders on the border are smuggling in fuel from India.

The junta has already withdrawn fuel quotas for all of Kachin State except Myitkyina Township and all of northern Shan State including Lashio and Naungcho (Nawnghkio) townships.

The full list of townships in Myanmar that no longer have fuel quotas is as follows: Tigyaing, Pale, Wetlet, Banmauk, Mawlaik, Katha,  Chaung-U,  Khampat,  Kale (Kalay), Salingyi, Kyunhla, Ye-U, Paungbyin, Myinmu, Na Bar, Budalin, Indaw, Yinmabin,  Kanbalu, Tamu, Myaung, Khin-U, Tabayin, and Kawlin in Sagaing Region. Momeik (Mongmit), Naungcho, Lashio, Mongyai and Mogok in Shan State. Minhla and Pauk in Magway Region.; Myingyan in Mandalay Region; and Yae Ni in Bago Region.