24-hr petrol stations a waste of resources

Letter from James Wong, Today Online 30 Jan 08;

In our effort to conserve energy and save the planet, I wonder if there is a need for petrol stations to stay open for 24 hours.

After midnight, especially on weekdays, few motorists go to the stations. I am quite sure the additional cost of operating stations past midnight is not cost-effective.

Singapore is not a big country. You can find a petrol station every kilometre or two.

In the end, consumers are paying, or are being "penalised", for this wastage in resources in the form of higher petrol prices. Many years ago, petrol stations stayed opened until late only on Chinese New Year's eve.

I suggest that petrol stations stay open past midnight only on Saturdays and on the eve of public holidays. They should be closed between midnight and 6am on other days.

Alternatively, the authorities could look into the option of having only one station in a certain area open for 24 hours on certain days of the month.

There are 13 petrol stations from Newton Circus to Eng Neo Avenue, along Bukit Timah and Dunearn roads.

Isn't this a waste of land use in land-scarce Singapore? Singaporeans are very adaptable and I'm sure we will get used to the new opening hours.


Petrol-station opening hours best left to market forces
Reply from MTI, Straits Times Forum 1 Feb 08;

IN THE letter, 'Do petrol stations have to open 24 hours?' (ST, Jan 30), Mr James Wong Joo Sin suggested that as part of our efforts to conserve energy, the opening hours of petrol stations should be regulated by the Government.

The Government takes seriously efforts to conserve energy. However, it should not micro-manage how people or businesses use energy, and decide for them what activities which use energy are or are not justified.

Businesses are in the best position to make their own commercial decisions on where, when and how to serve the needs of their customers. They will need to balance the additional cost of operating 24 hours against the extra revenue they expect to generate in making such decisions.

For petrol kiosks sited in close proximity to each other, commercial sense must similarly prevail. If there is a lack of demand, those which do not make sufficient returns will have to close, leading to an optimal number of operators.

The Government provides the market with good infrastructure and a conducive business environment. For enterprise to thrive, the rest is best left to market forces and free competition. This is the way to build an efficient economy which responds flexibly to changing conditions.

Lim Bee Khim (Ms)
Director
Corporate Communications
for Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Trade and Industry