PM downplays fuel hoarding concern amid shortagesPrime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, centre, chairs a special meeting of the Joint Management and Monitoring Centre for the Situation in the Middle East on Thursday. (Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya)Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has dismissed concerns about fuel hoarding, saying the shortages observed are due to rising consumption driven by public anxiety rather than illicit stockpiling. However, concern over the prolonged conflict in the Middle East has led to panic buying, pushing up daily fuel demand. When asked whether the alleged "mystery figure" stockpiling fuel for profit had been identified, the prime minister responded: "No, there is no such mystery figure hoarding fuel. He urged the public not to crowd petrol stations unnecessarily, saying fuel transport vehicles will be given 24-hour access to Bangkok to ease distribution bottlenecks.

Source: Bangkok Post March 20, 2026 00:51 UTC