Bangkok: The Prime Minister proposed three measures to address the oil situation and reduce the burden on the public. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul highlighted three measures: "budget reduction, restructuring of energy prices, and assistance measures" to address the oil situation and alleviate the burden on the public. He emphasized the need for collaborative adjustments to overcome this crisis.

According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that today, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul announced measures to address and prevent fuel shortages resulting from the conflict in the Middle East, as well as measures to assist the public affected by the situation. The summary is as follows:

The Prime Minister stated that the fighting in the Middle East, a major producer of oil and natural gas, has caused a rapid increase in the price of oil and natural gas, as well as by-products such as fertilizers and plastic pellets, on the global market. This has had a global impact, including on Thailand, which imports approximately 50% of its energy from the Middle East.

The conflict in the Middle East has escalated, leading to attacks on production facilities, refineries, oil storage facilities, and transportation systems for oil and natural gas throughout the region. Even if the conflict ends in the future, the infrastructure used for oil and natural gas production in the Middle East will take time to recover to normal levels. Therefore, energy prices and shortages of petrochemical products will persist for some time.

The Prime Minister further stated that the government chose to disclose these facts to the public in order to foster understanding and prepare for adapting their lifestyles to cope with the situation. He affirmed that the Prime Minister and all members of the Cabinet will work diligently to solve problems, provide assistance, and safeguard the interests of all sectors of the population so that they can overcome this difficult period.

So, what the government will do is reduce government budgets to prioritize assisting and mitigating the impact on the public. They plan to restructure energy prices, including oil and electricity, to reduce energy costs for the public as quickly as possible. Additionally, they will implement measures to alleviate the hardship of the people, such as the "Half-Price Plus" project and providing low-interest loans to farmers, all industrial sectors, and SMEs.

'We are facing a global crisis. We must accept the reality and adapt together to overcome this crisis. National unity is the most important social asset at this time. I believe that the cooperation of all citizens will help us get through this crisis and live with the changes that will occur in the future,' the Prime Minister said.