PM Anutin orders emergency release of fuel reserves

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered oil suppliers, including refineries and oil depots, to release their mandatory reserves for distribution to service stations to help ease widespread fuel shortages.

Service stations in many provinces have experienced shortages over the past several days as motorists rushed to fill their vehicles, causing many outlets to run out of fuel.

Some operators, including Bangchak service stations, have complained that their daily supply quotas were reduced, forcing them to limit the amount of fuel—particularly diesel—sold to each customer or, in some cases, leading to rapid sell-outs.

Meanwhile, Interior Permanent Secretary Orasit Samphantharat has instructed provincial governors and district officers to closely monitor oil suppliers to ensure strict compliance with regulations on fuel deliveries, reserve stockpiling, and daily inventory reporting to the Energy Business Department.

Under existing rules, oil traders are required to report the names of customers who purchase 3,000 litres or more of fuel per transaction.

Bangchak Corporation yesterday dismissed speculation that it had reduced delivery quotas to service stations, saying shortages at some of its outlets were caused by a surge in demand of about 30% and logistical constraints on deliveries.

The company added that the situation is expected to improve soon, as oil tankers are now permitted to operate around the clock and regulations governing reserve holdings by refineries and depots have been relaxed.

Bangchak said its refineries have processed about 290,000 barrels of crude per day over the past three weeks, producing around 19 million litres of diesel daily—equivalent to 110% of normal capacity—while domestic demand has also risen.

Meanwhile, the Association of Wholesaling and Retailing has reportedly informed the Internal Trade Department of its plan to raise prices of bottled drinking water by 5 baht per pack and palm oil by 7–8 baht per bottle, citing higher costs for plastic packaging.