Bangkok: The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior has issued urgent orders for the management of energy resources across all areas nationwide. The directive calls for the governors of all 76 provinces to collaborate with energy agencies and various sectors to address and respond to the current energy situation.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Arsit Sampanrat, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, disclosed that Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed the ministry to take swift action following discussions on the energy situation, which has been impacted by the conflict in the Middle East on March 9, 2026. The Permanent Secretary emphasized that in order to appropriately manage the nation's fuel resources in alignment with the present circumstances, the governors have been instructed to implement a three-pronged approach.
The first approach involves assigning Provincial Energy Offices to work with relevant agencies to urgently survey and collect data on the private sector's fuel demand, categorized by business type, to establish a database of fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) demand. This data collection prioritizes essential businesses needing urgent resource allocation, and the information must be promptly reported to the Ministry of Energy.
The second approach requires the integration of energy situation data with Provincial Energy Offices, Provincial Commerce Offices, and other relevant agencies to monitor fuel sales closely and to prevent hoarding or opportunistic practices that could negatively impact the public.
Lastly, the third approach mandates the preparation of measures to address the energy situation by coordinating with relevant agencies. This coordination aims to ensure continuous fuel management, thereby preventing disruption to economic activities and safeguarding the livelihoods of the people.
The Permanent Secretary highlighted the importance of instilling confidence in the private sector, which is crucial for economic stability. Provincial governors are encouraged to prepare strategies for managing the energy situation to maintain the smooth operation of fuel and petroleum resources, preventing any interruptions to both economic activities and daily life. This initiative is a critical responsibility for the Ministry of Interior, acting as the leader and administrator of government operations, to execute effectively in line with the directives from the Prime Minister, the Minister of Interior, and policy-level agencies.