Beijing's pricy oil

It is necessary for Beijing drivers to pay more for gas and diesel oil if the city is to continue to enjoy the unusually clean air and blue skies it witnessed during the Olympic Games.

But a hike in pump prices aimed to cover the extra cost for domestic oil companies to produce cleaner fuel will neither help raise the environment awareness of the public nor facilitate market-oriented reform of the oil pricing system.

Early this week, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform raised benchmark prices of gasoline and diesel by 200 yuan ($29) per ton and 290 yuan per ton respectively.