(Bangkok, 5th)— Thailand's domestic fuel shortage is worsening, with Prime Minister Anutin harshly condemning traders involved in illegal fuel smuggling and hoarding, denouncing their actions as "evil" and bordering on treason.
On Friday (April 3), Anutin ordered a comprehensive crackdown on such speculative activities to ensure domestic fuel supply. The Thai government has established a special task force focusing on combating fuel hoarding, price manipulation, and smuggling.
At a media briefing that day, he said, "These profiteering behaviors during the global energy crisis have aggravated the nationwide fuel shortage."
On Thursday (April 2), in response to reports of fuel being smuggled into Cambodia, Anutin described this as an extremely vile crime. When reporters pressed whether this was akin to treason, Anutin nodded in agreement.
Thailand has now banned fuel exports to countries other than Myanmar and Laos, and since the end of last year, due to ongoing tensions at the Thailand-Cambodia border, has prohibited exports of oil fuel and other significant strategic commodities to Cambodia. Recently, Thai authorities have strengthened interception and inspection of suspicious maritime shipments to strictly prevent fuel smuggling.
Due to the impact of conflicts in the Middle East, the price of unleaded gasoline in Thailand has soared to a historical high of 57.51 baht per liter (about 7.48 ringgit), while diesel has reached 47.74 baht.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Baser, said that the current situation is one of the most serious energy crises in Thailand's history.
Energy expert Banurach warned that more pressing than high oil prices is the imminent threat of supply chain disruption. The government must take immediate countermeasures before it is too late.
According to The Nation, he said Thailand's daily crude oil consumption is about 1 million barrels; according to government statements, only 24 million barrels are confirmed for April, meaning the country's oil reserves will start to decline this month.
He expects the situation to worsen, as May's supply is only about 9 million barrels. The total estimated shortfall for April and May reaches 27 million barrels.
He emphasized that the government must take urgent response measures and formulate a long-term energy strategy, as tensions in the Middle East are unlikely to ease in the short term.
At a media briefing that day, he said, "These profiteering behaviors during the global energy crisis have aggravated the nationwide fuel shortage."
On Thursday (April 2), in response to reports of fuel being smuggled into Cambodia, Anutin described this as an extremely vile crime. When reporters pressed whether this was akin to treason, Anutin nodded in agreement.
Thailand has now banned fuel exports to countries other than Myanmar and Laos, and since the end of last year, due to ongoing tensions at the Thailand-Cambodia border, has prohibited exports of oil fuel and other significant strategic commodities to Cambodia. Recently, Thai authorities have strengthened interception and inspection of suspicious maritime shipments to strictly prevent fuel smuggling.
Due to the impact of conflicts in the Middle East, the price of unleaded gasoline in Thailand has soared to a historical high of 57.51 baht per liter (about 7.48 ringgit), while diesel has reached 47.74 baht.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Baser, said that the current situation is one of the most serious energy crises in Thailand's history.
Energy expert Banurach warned that more pressing than high oil prices is the imminent threat of supply chain disruption. The government must take immediate countermeasures before it is too late.
According to The Nation, he said Thailand's daily crude oil consumption is about 1 million barrels; according to government statements, only 24 million barrels are confirmed for April, meaning the country's oil reserves will start to decline this month.
He expects the situation to worsen, as May's supply is only about 9 million barrels. The total estimated shortfall for April and May reaches 27 million barrels.
He emphasized that the government must take urgent response measures and formulate a long-term energy strategy, as tensions in the Middle East are unlikely to ease in the short term.