(Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)The government has announced a three-phase contingency plan to cope with a potential full-scale energy crisis, including fuel rationing and limited operating hours for petrol stations and shopping malls, should the war in the Middle East lead to the closure of two crucial maritime chokepoints. She said tensions in the Middle East continued to escalate. She said that as the Middle East risks intensify, many other countries have also stepped up measures to protect their populations. She also explained that fuel price adjustments were announced late at night to prevent hoarding and chaotic shortages at petrol stations. Pornchai Jirakulpaisal, director of policy and planning at the Oil Fuel Fund Office, said global oil prices were extremely volatile, with sharp differences between daytime and nighttime trading.

Source: Bangkok Post March 31, 2026 14:08 UTC