Anutin Urged to Probe Oil Hoarding Claims in Ang Thong

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has been urged to investigate whether Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn was involved in the alleged illegal hoarding of oil in Ang Thong. The call was made on April 10 during the second day of a parliamentary policy debate, raising concerns over potential political links to the case. The allegations centre on a trader accused of stockpiling large volumes of oil to sell at inflated prices.

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People’s MP Rangsiman Rome requested that the prime minister, who also leads the Bhumjaithai Party, examine claims tied to a trader known as Sia Tue. The trader is alleged to have hoarded around 330,000 litres of oil at a depot in Ang Thong with the intention of selling it to petrol stations at higher prices. Rangsiman suggested the trader had political connections and questioned whether the transport minister had prior knowledge of the activity.

Further claims were raised that the trader’s company owed more than 100 million baht to Pipat and had donated one million baht to the Bhumjaithai Party last year. Rangsiman alleged that Pipat may have failed to act against the trader. The accusations come amid broader scrutiny of oil pricing and supply practices.

Pipat has firmly denied any involvement in illegal oil hoarding. He also rejected claims that he had influenced decisions by oil refinery operators to increase prices on stored oil before the outbreak of armed conflict in the Middle East. The minister previously chaired a government committee tasked with addressing the oil price crisis.

Separately, Thai Pakdee MP Warong Dechgitvigrom alleged that certain oil depot and refinery operators had collectively hoarded more than 700 million litres of oil for profit. These claims suggest a wider issue within the energy sector beyond the specific case raised in parliament. However, no direct evidence linking Pipat to such activities has been presented.

The ThaiNewsRoom reported that the issue is expected to place additional pressure on the government to ensure transparency in energy supply management. Calls for investigation may lead to further parliamentary scrutiny or formal inquiries into both political and commercial actors. Authorities have yet to announce any official probe into the allegations.

Picture courtesy of TNR of People’s MP Rangsiman Rome

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Thai newsroom 11 Apr 2026