Government may limit service station opening hours

The Thai government is considering restricting the operating hours of service stations nationwide and expanding remote working mandates for civil servants, with the measures expected to take effect after the Songkran festival.

The moves are aimed at further tightening national energy consumption as the conflict in the Middle East shows little sign of abating.

Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs Pakorn Nilprapunt revealed yesterday, following a special Cabinet meeting, that the government is exploring more aggressive ways to curb domestic fuel consumption while global energy prices remain volatile.

According to Pakorn, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has authorised the use of certain provisions under the 1973 Emergency Decree on Fuel Shortage Prevention to manage the crisis, with several key measures set to be implemented soon to address current logistical or energy concerns.

Most notably, the government plans to introduce controls on service station opening and closing times. These restrictions are tentatively scheduled to take effect following the mid-April Songkran holidays.

Additionally, a government work-from-anywhere initiative will be rolled out to reduce commuting, with Pakorn confirming that civil servants can begin remote operations across government agencies immediately.

The Cabinet has also tasked the Committee for the Appropriateness of Fuel Cost Determination (aka the Fuel Cost Committee), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, with conducting an urgent study into reducing refining margins and excise taxes.

"The committee must first approve the appropriateness of these cost adjustments, before the government can move forward with any formal mandate," Pakorn stated.

The finance and energy ministries are currently reviewing the wholesale oil price structure, specifically looking to strip away any inflated insurance and transport costs from the refining fee formula. Energy Minister Akanat Promphan is expected to summon refinery representatives for crunch talks today, to negotiate a reduction in these margins to reflect actual costs.

Anutin stated that there is a specific timeline for implementation. If the measure to close gas stations between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM is enforced, it will likely take effect from April 20, 2026, onwards. This is to allow the public to complete their holiday travels and return to their normal lives first.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has pledged a comprehensive strategy to mitigate the impact of soaring global energy prices, as the newly formed Cabinet prepares to address the nation’s economic stability.

Following the special Cabinet meeting yesterday, Anutin noted that the geopolitical situation is significantly disrupting global supply chains. With Thailand importing approximately 50% of its energy from the Middle East, the government is bracing for a prolonged period of high costs for fuel, electricity and petrochemical products like fertilisers and plastics.

“The conflict has escalated to attacks on production facilities and infrastructure. Even if the fighting stops tomorrow, restoration will take time," Anutin stated. "We must adjust our way of life to face this reality. National unity is our most important social capital in these trying times."

He also emphasised the need for transparency, claiming that the government has chosen to speak the truth about the severity of the crisis.

As part of its response, the government plans to shield the public from these external shocks through a three-pronged relief plan.

This includes reallocating the public sector budget by cutting non-essential state spending and diverting those funds directly into relief programmes for citizens.

At the same time, authorities will prioritise energy price restructuring, focusing on the revamping of fuel and electricity pricing mechanisms to ease the financial burden on households and businesses as quickly as possible.

In addition, the government will roll out targeted economic stimulus measures, including the ‘Khon La Khrueng Plus’ (Half-and-Half Plus) scheme, the ‘Thai Help Thai’ programme and low-interest loans tailored to support farmers, industry and small and medium-sized enterprises.

He also described the current situation as a global crisis that requires collective sacrifice to maintain national economic stability, while urging the public to cooperate with energy-saving initiatives.

He expressed confidence that public cooperation will be key to maintaining stability and overcoming the disruption.