Bangkok: The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior has responded to directives from Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, urgently instructing governors nationwide to coordinate with provincial police chiefs to allow fuel transport trucks to operate 24 hours a day to alleviate the public's hardship from high fuel demand amidst the conflict in the Middle East.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Arsit Sampanrat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, revealed that Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed all agencies to integrate their work and upgrade measures for overseeing the country's energy situation in preparation for the impact of the tense situation in the Middle East. He emphasized that the Ministry of Interior will be the main mechanism to support the Ministry of Energy in managing resources essential for people's lives, especially fuel, ensuring continuity and widespread access throughout the country.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior stated that the Ministry of Interior had been informed by the Ministry of Energy of the results of a meeting with oil retailers on March 16, 2026, to assess the situation and develop measures to address the potential insufficient supply of oil to service stations. The oil retailers expressed their desire to increase the frequency and quantity of oil distribution from depots to service stations, but are currently constrained by time and route regulations imposed by traffic officers in each area under the Land Traffic Act. This affects the speed of oil delivery amidst the tense global situation.
Therefore, to support the efficient distribution of fuel, the Ministry of Energy has sent a letter to the National Police Chief requesting consideration for a relaxation of regulations allowing fuel transport trucks to operate 24 hours a day for a period of one month. Furthermore, the Ministry of Energy has requested cooperation from the Ministry of Interior to coordinate with provincial governors nationwide to discuss with their respective traffic chiefs the possibility of relaxing these operating restrictions, in order to alleviate public hardship during the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior further stated that, in order to ensure smooth and swift operations at the local level and to respond comprehensively to the needs of the public, the Ministry of Interior has issued a directive requesting all provincial governors to emphasize to provincial police commanders, as the heads of traffic officers in their respective areas, the importance of granting special exemptions for oil transport vehicles during this situation. This is to ensure the seamless movement of energy resources from oil depots to gas stations in communities.
'This easing of traffic restrictions is a significant collaboration between the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Energy, and the Royal Thai Police, in line with the Prime Minister's policy of integrated operations to address the current situation and prevent fuel shortages in the region. The Ministry of Interior will continuously monitor the situation and is ready to facilitate everything to minimize the impact on the public from international conflicts,' the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior concluded.