Akanat Promphan, a Bhumjaithai MP tipped to become the new energy minister, urged the government during a parliamentary debate on the energy crisis today to take decisive action against oil refineries if they are found to be involved in fuel hoarding.
MPs from both the government and opposition benches submitted verbal motions to House Speaker Sophon Zaram today, proposing a debate on widespread fuel shortages reported in many provinces as a result of the worsening oil crisis.
Opposition MPs, including Parit Wacharasindhu of the People’s Party, called on the government to send representatives to attend the debate and answer questions from the opposition.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said that, under the parliamentary system, ministers in caretaker roles are still answerable to parliament, even though a new government has yet to take office. Therefore, a government representative should be present during the debate, he said.
Sophon told MPs that he could not say whether the government would assign anyone to attend, adding that he has no authority to compel the government to respond to the opposition’s demand.
Nonetheless, the debate went ahead, with Akanat taking the floor to present his motion. He said he had learned from several service stations that they had received less fuel from distributors and that wholesale prices were rising arbitrarily, even though the Energy Ministry reported that all six of the country’s refineries are operating at full capacity, producing a combined total of 77 million litres of fuel per day.
Akanat proposed that all six refineries disclose full details of their output and fuel exports in a transparent manner for public scrutiny. If any are found to be hoarding fuel or inflating prices, he said the government must take decisive action.
Democrat deputy leader Korn Chatikavanij said during the debate that the widespread fuel shortages reflect the government’s failure in fuel management. He added that it is fortunate this is not a no-confidence debate; otherwise, the government would be in deep trouble and coalition MPs would face a difficult decision in supporting it.
The former finance minister noted that Akanat’s question about why shortages persist despite refinery output exceeding domestic demand suggests that some “hooded men” may be hoarding fuel.
Korn said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s decision to lift caps on fuel prices and allow them to float stemmed from the government’s failure to check oil inventories before the onset of the crisis, leading to hoarding and profiteering.
He also criticised the government for allowing refineries to increase refining costs from two baht to six baht per barrel without proper justification, while at the same time urging the public to conserve energy.
He proposed that the government cut excise tax on finished oil products by six baht per litre and impose “windfall fees” on oil traders benefiting excessively from the crisis. He also called on ministers overseeing energy issues to face opposition MPs in parliament and explain the situation to the public.
