Independent petrol stations may face closure.

Byline: Yuthana Priwan

May 15--Petrol-station operators have called on PTT Plc to stop capping its pump prices, saying independent and small operators are losing money and may be forced out of business.

Thongchai Preeyangkul, president of the Oil Traders' Association for Tak province, said competition in the retail oil market was stronger than ever as trade prices had hit their highest level, but pump operators were unable to raise retail prices to reflect actual costs, due to PTT's price capping.

To help ease motorists' increasing costs, PTT has been capping its retail oil prices at pumps across the country.

As a result, petrol-station …