Fuel crisis in Laos nears breaking point as pumps in capital run dry

Fuel pumps in the Laotian capital Vientiane started running dry on May 16, 2022, amid a fuel shortage that has been ongoing for weeks. Motorists in Laos, one of Southeast Asia’s poorest countries, have been queuing for hours to fill up on petrol. A weakened local currency, high inflation and the unstable global oil market have pushed the country’s fuel crisis near breaking point.