The fuel crisis has already affected Sri Bun Rueang Temple in Mueang Loei district. Previously, each cremation required 60 liters of diesel, but now only 10 liters per body are used. The temple's stock has only 60 liters left, enough to cremate just six more bodies.
At 11:00 a.m. on 17 March 2026, at Sri Bun Rueang Temple, Ban Tio, Kud Pong Subdistrict, Mueang Loei District, Loei Province, reporters observed that the temple’s crematorium, which relies on fuel for religious rites, is facing hardship due to a lack of cremation diesel. The temple has appealed to local gas station owners but could only purchase 500 baht worth, about 16 liters. Previously, each cremation required 60 liters of diesel, now reduced to 10 liters per body.
Phra Maha Thanawat Priyattimee, assistant abbot of Sri Bun Rueang Temple, explained that the temple operates a traditional crematorium using diesel fuel. Previously, each body cremated required about 60 liters of diesel. Due to the fuel shortage making diesel hard to obtain, the temple now uses only 10 liters per cremation. The natural cremation method involves applying small amounts of fuel and allowing the body to smolder nearly out before spraying fuel 3-4 more times until the body is reduced to ashes. This process takes 3-4 hours, compared to just 1.5 hours when using 60 liters of diesel.
Currently, the temple has only 60 liters of diesel reserved for future cremations. Given that each cremation now uses 10 liters, this supply is enough for only six bodies.
“The temple tried to buy fuel at gas stations but found supplies exhausted. We had to ask for assistance from the stations, explaining our need for cremation fuel. They kindly provided 500 baht worth, about 16 liters, which had to be carried by the monks themselves.”