Thailand PM calls for energy saving as Middle East conflict drives price surge | Thailand
Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul warned of the impact of the conflict in the Middle East, urging the public to save energy and calling for work-from-home measures and carpooling.
In his statement on social media, Anutin said that Thailand was exposed to a crisis due to its dependence on imported oil and gas and that the country could not remain indifferent to this situation.
“I also request that all citizens and the private sector cooperate to reduce personal vehicle use, whether through WFH (work from home) or WFA (work from anywhere), and to equally achieve energy savings through the transition to public transport, car sharing and the responsible use of electricity,” he said.
“Although Thailand has high oil reserves compared to other countries, we are in a fragile position as a country that imports large amounts of oil,” he added. “We cannot remain complacent and manage our oil resources as we did in the past.”
He said more measures could be announced and the government has promised to do everything it can to protect the public from the crisis.
Governments across Asia have taken steps to save energy; Countries such as Sri Lanka and the Philippines have introduced a four-day week for many public sector staff, and Vietnam has urged employees to work from home.
The Thai government had already suspended most foreign trips by its workers and instructed officials to wear short-sleeved, tieless shirts except for ceremonies to reduce the need for air conditioning.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce announced that it will tighten crude palm oil exports and control bottled palm oil prices from Tuesday in a bid to protect domestic supplies as demand for biodiesel rises.
Diesel prices in Thailand have risen from around 30 baht per liter in late February to more than 50 baht (about £1.15) per liter this weekend. Rising energy costs have caused misery to farmers, as well as to the transportation and travel industry as they prepare for Songkran, Thailand’s traditional New Year holiday.
The fact that people frequently return to their hometowns for holidays also attracts the attention of tourists who participate in water fights on the streets. However, some tourism businesses fear this year’s celebrations will be quieter due to rising flight costs and aviation disruptions.
On Monday, Indonesia announced a 28 percentage point increase in its jet fuel surcharge, saying it would allow airlines to increase domestic ticket prices by up to 13 percent.
