DSI probes mystery loss of 57 million litres of fuel oil

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is probing the mysterious disappearance of about 57 million litres of fuel oil during sea transport from a refinery to oil depots in the southern province of Surat Thani, said Justice Minister Rutthapon Naowarat today.

He told the media today that a total of 217 million litres of fuel left the refinery on 96 voyages to six oil depots in Surat Thani in March, but only 160 million litres arrived. The whereabouts of the remaining 57 million litres remain unknown.

He made clear, however, that the refinery is not responsible for the discrepancy.

The justice minister said that several similar cases, in which oil shipments left refineries but did not reach their destinations, have previously been reported in Ang Thong, Tak and Nakhon Sawan provinces.

In those cases, it was eventually discovered that the oil had been hoarded for profiteering.

DSI Director-General Yutthana Praedam, meanwhile, said that the missing fuel oil may have been offloaded onto other vessels at sea and smuggled out of the country, or hoarded without notifying the relevant authorities.

He noted that deliberately delaying oil deliveries by a trader is an offence.

Meanwhile, Pol Gen Tatchai Pitaneelaboot, the deputy national police chief, disclosed that six service stations have been found hoarding fuel and allegedly diverting deliveries to sell to selected customers at higher prices.

He said the stations charged a 10-baht premium per litre of diesel sold to certain industries in need of fuel to keep their operations running.