Panic buying, not hoarding, behind fuel shortages: PM
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has dismissed suspicions raised by groups such as the Truckers Association that oil refineries and depots are hoarding fuel for profiteering, allegedly causing widespread shortages at service stations nationwide.
Chairing a special meeting this afternoon with relevant agencies to address the fuel shortage, the prime minister told the media that the situation is mainly being driven by panic buying by motorists and stockpiling for other purposes. This has pushed demand from 67 million litres per day to about 84 million litres.
He said imported crude oil continues to arrive as usual and refineries have not reduced production, while noting that demand has surged by about 10 million litres per day due to panic buying.
Meanwhile, Energy Minister Atthapol Rerkpiboon inspected a major oil depot in Lam Luk Ka district of Pathum Thani today. The depot is responsible for supplying fuel to about 200 service stations in the central region.
He said there was no evidence of hoarding at the facility, which is operating around the clock to fill tankers for distribution across central provinces.
He added that the number of oil deliveries from the depot has doubled to 400 trips per day, or about 8 million litres.
However, he noted an emerging issue: oil tankers are taking longer to complete deliveries from depots. He also maintained that every litre of refined petroleum products leaving refineries is being subsidised by the Oil Fuel Fu