A man in Phetchabun, Thailand cautioned fuel buyers after purchasing what he thought was petrol but received water instead. Amnat Thueansantier revealed this incident on his Facebook, showing videos of his employees draining water from a well-drilling engine. Having paid 40,000 baht for what was supposed to be petrol during a fuel shortage, he found the mix-up when the engine failed to start.
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The situation unfolded when Amnat's staff bought petrol from a small shop in the Bueng Samphan district. Once they refueled, the engine displayed a fuel injection issue, prompting Amnat to inspect and discover the water. Fortunately, after refueling with actual petrol, the engine worked normally, avoiding significant damage despite the scare.
Amnat's warning arises amid Thailand's ongoing fuel challenges, with Director-General of the Department of Energy Business, Sarawut Kaewtahip, apologizing and assuring that Thailand has enough fuel reserves for 101 days. He explained that the shortages were due to distribution bottlenecks, although some stations are still facing limited supply. Concurrently, rising fuel prices have ignited public criticism, notably over comments by Energy Minister Attaphol Rerkpiboon.
Rerkpiboon suggested consumers reduce petrol usage by 10% to avoid higher costs, adding that increased prices also impact electricity generation. However, he intends to avoid raising electricity charges to mitigate further public burden. Such comments have been seen as dismissive amidst the already pressing fuel shortage, reported The Thaiger.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 18 Mar 2026