Thai PM Urges Energy Conservation As Global Fuel Crisis Deepens

By Kenny Teng Khoon Hock

BANGKOK, April 6 (Bernama) -- Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Monday called on both the public and private sectors to conserve energy by adopting work-from-home (WFH) and work-from-anywhere (WFA) practices.

In a message posted on his official Facebook page, Anutin said the Cabinet had previously approved measures such as WFH arrangements for civil servants, along with other energy-saving initiatives.

“At this point, I must emphasise the need for all government agencies to strictly implement these measures.

“I also call on the public and private sectors to cooperate in conserving energy in similar ways -- whether through WFH or WFA, reducing the use of private vehicles, turning to public transport, carpooling, and using electricity more responsibly,” he said.

Anutin added that additional measures may be introduced in the near future and would be communicated to the public with clear explanations to ensure understanding and cooperation.

The Prime Minister warned that the gap between global oil supply and demand, particularly shipments from West Asia, could widen, potentially leading to prolonged disruptions.

He noted that although Thailand maintains relatively high oil reserves compared to many other countries, the Kingdom remains vulnerable due to its heavy reliance on imported oil.

“We cannot afford complacency or continue managing the situation in the same way as before. We must enhance awareness and understanding, and seek effective measures to manage domestic oil supply in order to minimise the impact on the public,” he said.

He also assured that the government would do everything within its capacity to mitigate the impact on citizens.

“I firmly believe that every crisis brings opportunities, and that we can create new opportunities to offset what may be lost during this difficult period.

“This time will be no exception. With unity and cooperation among the Thai people, we will overcome this challenge as we have done in the past,” he said.

A check at a Bangchak Corporation petrol station on Monday showed Gasohol 95 priced at 43.95 baht (RM5.45) per litre, Gasohol 91 at 43.58 baht (RM5.41), and Diesel B7 at 50.54 baht (RM6.27).

-- BERNAMA