People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) have reopened access to fuel trucks entering Homalin Township in the upper Sagaing Region after blocking it for an extended period of time, according to local business owners.
A local gold entrepreneur from Homalin said, “They had blocked off both the land and water routes. Now they have reopened the access so that trucks can enter.”
The PDFs had banned the import of diesel into Homalin Township, resulting in hundreds of vehicles being stranded in Paungbyin Township, a local diesel importer said earlier this month.
In Homalin Township, which has many gold mining operations, petrol prices rose sharply due to the ban on diesel imports into the township. Now petrol prices have dropped slightly again, locals say.
“Petrol prices have now dropped again. Prices have now dropped to 1.3 million kyat per barrel. Previously it was 1.6 – 1.7 million kyat. We haven’t resumed gold mining yet. We are still monitoring the situation,” said a local gold entrepreneur in Homalin Township.
According to locals, the PDFs have reopened access to diesel, but only on a limited basis.
“They are charging 100,000 kyat per barrel. Only 20 trucks are allowed per day,” said a local business owner from Namtaw village.
There has been an armed conflict between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs), the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA), the Myanmar army and militias in areas bordering Homalin and Paungbyin Townships for nearly two years, which has led to frequent trade disruptions.
Sent by Say Kaung Kham (Shanni Voice)