AKP Phnom Penh, June 22, 2025 --

If oil prices rise in Cambodia, it is not a result of the government's suspension of oil imports from Thailand, but rather due to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, according to Dr. Kin Phea, Director General of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia.

In a Facebook post this evening, Dr. Kin Phea explained that the price surge is primarily driven by recent developments in the Middle East—specifically, a U.S. airstrike on Iran, which led the Iranian parliament to pass a law closing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route. This move is expected to cause global oil prices to rise sharply.

“The situation in the Middle East is becoming increasingly tense, and energy security is now a growing concern,” he added.

His remarks follow Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet’s announcement earlier this evening to halt all fuel and gas imports from Thailand starting from midnight tonight.

In a social media post, the Prime Minister assured the public that Cambodian fuel suppliers can secure adequate imports from alternative sources to meet domestic demand.

Similarly, the Ministry of Mines and Energy confirmed that Cambodia has sufficient fuel and gas reserves and supply channels to ensure continued availability for the local market.

By C. Nika