TRACEY SHELTON

Kim Hun shows off the LPG tank that’s helping him save money as petrol prices climb to record highs.

F

ed up with watching the high price of gasoline eat all the profits from his taxi business, Kim Hun converted his Camry to run on bottled gas.

The 26-year-old has operated a taxi route between Phnom Penh and Kampong Thom province for three years.

"I had my Camry converted in early 2007 because I could not make any income with my taxi when I had to pay for petrol," said Hun.

He spent $450 on buying a gas tank and $50 on the conversion service but says it was a worthwhile investment.

"When the price of oil got so high, most taxi drivers converted to using gas," said Hun. "Their profits increased so I decided to change too."

He estimates that using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is 42 percent cheaper than gasoline.

The drive from Phnom Penh to Kampong Thom takes around 20 liters of gasoline, which now costs more than 5,200 riel per liter.

The same trip in a gas-powered taxi uses 20 liters of gas at 2,900 riel per liter.

"If I use petrol, I make a profit of $10 for a single trip between Phnom Penh and Kampong Thom, while using gas, the profit reaches up to $15.50," said another 39-year-old taxi driver, Kuon Poch, who switched to gas three years ago.