Thailand's government has enacted urgent measures to ensure a steady energy supply nationwide. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed provincial governors to work with police to allow continuous operation of oil transport trucks. This decision aims to prevent potential fuel shortages that could disrupt supply to homes and businesses.

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The directive comes amid increased global uncertainty affecting energy resources. Interior Permanent Secretary Unsit Sampuntharat stated that the Prime Minister highlighted the need for cohesive action among state agencies. The Interior and Energy Ministries will collaborate, with governors coordinating with police to relax restrictions on tanker operations for a month, enabling faster fuel deliveries.

Energy Minister Auttapol Rerkpiboon noted that Thailand has decreased its reliance on Middle Eastern crude from about 70% to just over 50%. By sourcing oil from Africa and the U.S., the country aims to enhance energy security and mitigate geopolitical risks. Recent agreements have secured nearly two million barrels from Angola and 600,000–700,000 barrels from the U.S., expanding imports from other regions like South Africa and Malaysia.

In the upcoming weeks, authorities will monitor the supply chain closely to adjust strategies as needed. This proactive approach reflects Thailand's efforts to maintain energy stability amidst fluctuating global market conditions, reported Bangkok Post.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Bangkok Post · 19 Mar 2026

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In the past 2 weeks, they could not make plan?? Why is in Europe no problems at the petrolstations? They have the same issues with oil. Here is announced we have enough for 100 days and that is true as it is not distributed to the people

8 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

In the past 2 weeks, they could not make plan?? Why is in Europe no problems at the petrolstations? They have the same issues with oil. Here is announced we have enough for 100 days and that is true as it is not distributed to the people

Probably because only 3.8% of Europe's oil passes through the strait of Hormuz.

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/charted-oil-trade-through-the-strait-of-hormuz-by-country/

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Interior and Energy Ministries will collaborate, with governors coordinating with police to relax restrictions on tanker operations for a month, enabling faster fuel deliveries.

Yes that should solve the problem.

What does relaxing restrictions on tanker operations mean?

Not that fuel truck drivers can drive as long as they like I hope.

44 minutes ago, 300sd said:

Yes that should solve the problem.

Yes i feel very relaxed now. Absolutely no problem now. Thank you PM !

I anticipate some Simpsons like tanker explosions in the coming weeks if not days.

Supply chain logistics is an extremely complex process. Doesn't matter if it's oil or baked beans. Literally nobody has a clue how their baked beans got on the supermarket shelf other than the fact that maybe they arrived on a truck.

The simplest analogy is imagine you plan a normally two-hour drive on the motorway that may be two and a half hours on a really busy day.

Then imagine a ten-car pile-up that blocks the motorway and you're delayed an additional 60 minutes. Now imagine not one 10-car pile-up, but fifteen x ten car pile-ups that encompass both north and south bound traffic for 80 kilometres, plus every offramp on your entire route. Those of us that can't call in their private helicopter to rescue them will be camping out beside the motorway for two days.

International supply chains have become accustomed to JIT (just in time) deliveries to preserve cashflow, limit pressure on storage facilities, and have everything from trucks, to ships, to planes, to packaging, to full or empty containers being in the right place at the right time to keep them baked beans (or oil) on the shelf and replaced at the expected rate of depletion.

Then imagine that you allow your precious stock of baked beans (say 100 days worth) to be depleted at the usual rate of consumption (plus panic buying) while knowing full well that although you've sourced alternative supplies, the volume is 50% down from normal, the ships haven't left the foreign port yet, and in a competitive market somebody with a bigger cheque book might convince the shipper to redirect your en route beans to an alternate buyer. So even if your beans arrive in 40 days, your stock is now down to 50 days. Rinse and repeat.

Never mind the issues of non-production in the Gulf states, restarting production (yeah, just push a button), lack of storage facilities to handle increased demand, tankers in all the wrong places. It's gonna be a right royal Foxtrot-Uniform.

The proverbial excrement hasn't hit the fan yet. It's travelling - well actually NOT travelling at about zero knots per hour. A slow boat to China would be preferential. Even if all the ships started moving tomorrow, the oil supply chain will still be in a crisis state for a year or more.

3 hours ago, phetphet said:

What does relaxing restrictions on tanker operations mean?

Not that fuel truck drivers can drive as long as they like I hope.

It means no restrictions on the hours they can deliver to petrol stations.

5 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

In the past 2 weeks, they could not make plan?? Why is in Europe no problems at the petrolstations? They have the same issues with oil. Here is announced we have enough for 100 days and that is true as it is not distributed to the people

Because people are hoarding.

1 hour ago, Gsxrnz said:

Supply chain logistics is an extremely complex process. Doesn't matter if it's oil or baked beans. Literally nobody has a clue how their baked beans got on the supermarket shelf other than the fact that maybe they arrived on a truck.

The simplest analogy is imagine you plan a normally two-hour drive on the motorway that may be two and a half hours on a really busy day.

Then imagine a ten-car pile-up that blocks the motorway and you're delayed an additional 60 minutes. Now imagine not one 10-car pile-up, but fifteen x ten car pile-ups that encompass both north and south bound traffic for 80 kilometres, plus every offramp on your entire route. Those of us that can't call in their private helicopter to rescue them will be camping out beside the motorway for two days.

International supply chains have become accustomed to JIT (just in time) deliveries to preserve cashflow, limit pressure on storage facilities, and have everything from trucks, to ships, to planes, to packaging, to full or empty containers being in the right place at the right time to keep them baked beans (or oil) on the shelf and replaced at the expected rate of depletion.

Then imagine that you allow your precious stock of baked beans (say 100 days worth) to be depleted at the usual rate of consumption (plus panic buying) while knowing full well that although you've sourced alternative supplies, the volume is 50% down from normal, the ships haven't left the foreign port yet, and in a competitive market somebody with a bigger cheque book might convince the shipper to redirect your en route beans to an alternate buyer. So even if your beans arrive in 40 days, your stock is now down to 50 days. Rinse and repeat.

Never mind the issues of non-production in the Gulf states, restarting production (yeah, just push a button), lack of storage facilities to handle increased demand, tankers in all the wrong places. It's gonna be a right royal Foxtrot-Uniform.

The proverbial excrement hasn't hit the fan yet. It's travelling - well actually NOT travelling at about zero knots per hour. A slow boat to China would be preferential. Even if all the ships started moving tomorrow, the oil supply chain will still be in a crisis state for a year or more.

Thailand will surely be buying oil from Russia now.

Could it be , I don't want to sell my stuff at the current price , so I'll hold it back until I can get more $$$$ for it , scenario ??