BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s energy authorities ordered emergency fuel truck deployments after reports of tightening supplies and growing pressure from rescue services over purchase limits at petrol stations.
Emergency coordination at the Energy Ministry
Energy Minister Auttapol Rerkpiboon ordered a rapid mobilisation of fuel tankers to move gasoline and diesel more quickly to the provinces following local reports of dwindling supplies.
After a crisis meeting with oil traders and refinery representatives, he had additional transport capacity activated at short notice to halt delivery delays.
Permanent secretary Prasert Sinsukprasert also joined the briefing, where officials identified bottlenecks in the supply chain that had recently led to delays at individual stations.
More fuel trucks and tighter delivery schedules
Under the new guidelines, tankers were instructed to run on denser schedules and shuttle more quickly between depots and petrol stations so affected locations could be replenished.
The ministry said it had agreed with fuel traders to mobilise
“every available resource”
said the ministry, to bring fuel from the
“sufficient national reserves”
said the ministry, swiftly to retail outlets.
Why queues suddenly formed at the pumps
According to authorities, the immediate trigger for the problems was noticeably higher demand, as many consumers filled their tanks earlier and more fully than usual out of concern over shortages.
Participants also pointed to the tense situation on energy markets in connection with the Middle East conflict, which had further fuelled nervousness in parts of the country.
Rescue foundations warn over 500-baht limit on ambulances
In Chiang Mai, Sahachat Limcharoenphakdi, president of the Phetkasem Foundation, called on petrol stations to ease a purchase cap of 500 baht per vehicle and day, warning it could obstruct medical emergency runs.
“Our organisation operates more than 20 rescue and emergency units in several provinces and in Bangkok, and in rural areas round trips of over 40 kilometres are often needed per call,”
said Sahachat Limcharoenphakdi, president of the Phetkasem Foundation.
When jerrycans are missing and equipment falls silent
Sahachat described how, under a 500‑baht limit, an ambulance could sometimes manage only two to three missions, even though standards required vehicles to be kept ready for deployment at all times and to be refuelled at the latest at “half tank”.
Additional hurdles arose when petrol stations restricted fuel sales into containers, he said, because rescue teams occasionally needed jerrycans for stranded motorists as well as fuel for devices such as hydraulic rescue cutters or compressors.
Chiang Mai caught between remaining stocks and empty pumps
Local reporters, citing the Chiang Rai Times, said that on 15 and 16 March fuel was still available at some stations in Chiang Mai, while other locations had already sold out.
At the same time, residents continued lining up to refuel their vehicles, which put further pressure on short‑term logistics.
Phuket seeks calm and threatens hoarders with penalties
On Phuket, provincial leaders responded with a coordination round involving several agencies to monitor consumption, stabilise prices and launch energy‑saving measures, while preparing emergency reserves for critical services.
The commerce authority warned against hoarding and excessive pricing, pointing to possible penalties of up to 140,000 baht or up to seven years in prison, while branded stations such as PTT, Bangchak and Caltex were reported by officials to be continuing regular sales.