There is no reason to panic about buying fuel due to the ongoing Middle East crisis, as the government has already frozen the price of diesel for at least 15 days and has contingency plans in place, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said today.
He also cautioned against fuel hoarding, stating that if fuel is stored improperly, it could pose a fire hazard.
He was responding to reports that people across the country have been rushing to fill their tanks, fearing rising fuel prices and a possible shortage in the near future.
The Commerce Ministry has been actively monitoring fuel and oil product prices to prevent unreasonable increases. Anutin warned that petrol stations caught raising prices would face legal action.
Regarding concerns that the country's fuel reserves may not last more than 60 days, he reassured the public that the government is taking comprehensive measures, including controlling fuel prices, to prevent hardships.
Meanwhile, Sarawut Kaewthip, Director-General of the Energy Business Department of the Energy Ministry, requested the public's cooperation by refraining from hoarding fuel, assuring them that there is a sufficient supply to meet demand.
Referring to the unrest in the Middle East, Sarawut warned that hoarding large amounts of fuel could violate the law and pose safety risks.
People should only fill their vehicles and avoid taking additional containers to fill for safety reasons.
Farmers and other professionals who need to fill containers for work-related purposes are allowed to do so under proper management by fuel retailers.
His department is closely monitoring the situation and has asked fuel dealers to continue to ensure a sufficient supply for the public.
He said that the country’s oil reserves remain adequate and encouraged people to have confidence in the country’s energy management system.
This will help reduce the burden on imports and maintain the overall stability of energy costs, he added.
