Dr. Kurujit, former Permanent Secretary of Energy, expressed concern over energy security risks and urged the government to urgently address legal constraints before several petroleum concessions expire, drawing lessons from the Erawan transition period when gas production declined and Thailand had to import high-priced LNG, affecting the public.
On 13 July 2026 GMT+7, Dr. Kurujit Nakornthap, Director of the Petroleum and Energy Institute of Thailand (PEIT) and former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, stated that Thailand's energy situation remains volatile due to both domestic and international factors, especially geopolitical conflicts, fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices, and limitations in managing domestic energy resources.
The clear energy crisis emerged after the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, when many European countries reduced oil and natural gas imports from Russia, leading to competition for liquefied natural gas (LNG) on the global market and causing spot LNG prices to rise several times above normal levels.
Thailand, which still partly depends on spot market LNG imports, has been affected by increased fuel costs and has had to manage rising energy prices, fuel fund burdens, and accumulated electricity costs.
"Recent energy price control measures have eased the public's short-term burden, but the costs have not disappeared; they have merely been deferred. Therefore, energy policies must consider both immediate impacts and long-term financial sustainability," Dr. Kurujit said.
Regarding Middle East conflicts and risks to energy transport routes, Dr. Kurujit believes Thailand should prioritize maintaining adequate oil and fuel reserves and prepare contingency plans for import or transport disruptions. While price controls or export restrictions may be necessary in emergencies, the government should set clear timeframes and criteria to build investor confidence and avoid harming long-term investments.
Dr. Kurujit added that the new draft Power Development Plan (PDP), which aims to increase clean and renewable energy shares, should balance three key goals: 1. energy security, 2. environmental protection and greenhouse gas reduction, and 3. energy prices acceptable to the public and industry.
Although renewable energy's role is growing, its limitations include inconsistent 24-hour electricity supply under all conditions. Therefore, the power system still requires energy sources that can maintain system stability.
During this transition, natural gas remains a crucial fuel to balance the power system, alongside developing energy storage technologies, improving grid efficiency, and exploring suitable alternative energies for Thailand.
Another urgent issue is that many petroleum concessions in the Gulf of Thailand will expire around 2027-2028, especially small fields with high production costs that require continuous new well drilling.
Dr. Kurujit explained that current petroleum laws require concessionaires to apply for production extensions at least six months before expiry, but in practice, investment planning, drilling, platform procurement, and personnel preparation take several years. Without clear government frameworks, operators may hesitate to invest in advance, causing drilling and maintenance delays that lead to reduced domestic production capacity.
The Gulf of Thailand's geology consists of many small gas fields with relatively short well lifespans, necessitating continuous new drilling and well abandonment. If investments halt, production volume will decline rapidly.
"The government should send clear policy signals well in advance, not wait until near expiry, because decisions made today will affect production volumes years into the future," Dr. Kurujit said.
To address this, Dr. Kurujit proposed the government quickly develop management frameworks for expiring petroleum concessions, considering each field's investment readiness, production costs, state benefits, transparency, and fair competition. For fields with remaining potential and willing operators, mechanisms should ensure continuous production without interruptions.
This must comply with laws and be transparently communicated to the public. Meanwhile, the government might consider adjusting tax and return conditions to suit costs and potential of small or late-life fields, prioritizing the nation's net benefits.
Dr. Kurujit believes legal amendments should proceed swiftly through parliamentary processes, with clear criteria disclosed, input from all stakeholders sought, and firm decision timelines set to enable operators to plan investments.
"The key issue is not protecting any single operator's interests, but maintaining continuous domestic energy production, reducing reliance on volatile imports, and ensuring the public receives energy at reasonable prices," Dr. Kurujit stated.
He emphasized that if the government acts promptly now, it will reduce risks of future domestic gas and oil production declines and prevent Thailand from facing high energy import costs amid global market volatility again.