Bangkok, March 28: Thailand’s Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has publicly apologized to the nation for the ongoing fuel crisis. During a press conference, he expressed his regret, stating that mismanagement has caused significant hardship for the public. He also shared details about a crucial agreement with Iran.
The press conference was held at the Government House in Bangkok to discuss the situation following a month of conflict in the Middle East.
Anutin announced that Thailand has reached an agreement with Iran, allowing its oil tankers to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz. He emphasized that this deal would alleviate concerns regarding fuel shortages in the country.
In front of the media, Anutin took responsibility for the fuel mismanagement in Thailand. He noted that the difficulties caused by the Middle East crisis have lasted longer than anticipated. He also mentioned the idea of price capping.
According to the Bangkok Post, he stood with his hands clasped and stated, “I apologize to the people for the disruptions caused by fuel management issues.”
Defending his decision, he explained that removing price caps at fuel pumps would help prevent oil smuggling to neighboring countries and reduce fuel shortages.
On Wednesday night, Thai citizens were shocked by a price increase to six baht per liter. Following the announcement of the State Oil Fuel Fund, long lines formed at service stations nationwide before the new prices took effect at 5 AM on Thursday.
The sudden hike drew significant criticism from the public. However, the Oil Fuel Fund Office later attributed the rapid increase to multiple factors. Prime Minister Anutin remained silent on the matter until Saturday.
After the US-Israel conflict with Iran began on February 28, the government attempted to cap fuel prices to ease the burden on the public, expecting the war would not last long.
In the first three weeks of the conflict, the Oil Fund spent 20 billion baht on subsidies. However, as daily subsidy costs reached 2 billion baht, problems began to arise.
Anutin stated, “Given the current situation, this will not end soon, so the government had to adjust some measures and focus on low-income workers, farmers, and transport operators.” He clarified that ending the price cap does not mean fully floating prices, but rather reducing the subsidy rate from 24 baht per liter to 16 baht. This adjustment aims to better reflect global market conditions.
The Prime Minister assured that with a refining capacity of 77 million liters per day, Thailand has enough supply to meet the average fuel consumption of 67 million liters. However, recent panic buying has surged daily demand to 82 million liters—22% above average.
Anutin indicated that the situation is now under control but urged the public to try to save one liter of fuel each day.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
Leave a Comment