The Interior Ministry Secretary signed an appointment for officials to monitor price displays, check traders' oil holdings, watch for hoarding, and prevent oil shortages to ensure supply stability.
On 21 March 2026, Mr. Arsit Sampanrat, Secretary of the Interior Ministry, explained the implementation of Prime Ministerial Order No. 3/2026, titled 'Measures to Resolve and Prevent Fuel Oil Shortages Due to the Middle East Conflict' dated 20 March 2026. The order assigns the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn), Minister of Justice, Interior Ministry Secretary, National Police Chief, Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation, and Director-General of the Department of Energy Business to monitor oil traders' operations under Sections 7 and 10 of the Fuel Trade Act B.E. 2543 (2000). They are appointed as officials under the Emergency Decree on Oil Shortage Prevention B.E. 2516 (1973) with the authority to appoint subordinates to enforce this order.
The Interior Ministry Secretary stated that he signed a Ministry announcement dated 21 March 2026 appointing officials to effectively implement the Prime Minister's order for maximum public benefit. The appointments include the Deputy Interior Ministry Secretary, head of the Internal Security Mission Group, Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, security advisors in the Office of the Interior Ministry Secretary, all provincial governors, deputy governors, provincial clerks, and district chiefs. Their duties are to monitor and ensure oil traders comply strictly with the Prime Minister's order by supervising clear price displays at establishments in visible locations, verifying the accuracy of oil quantities held and sold, and monitoring hoarding and irregular sales activities.
He added that provincial governors must assign provincial energy offices to report every fuel price adjustment and provide data on fuel production and sales. For oil traders who operate refineries, reports must include production volumes, quantities held, sales, and customer lists with amounts sold to each customer. For non-refinery oil traders, sales data must be reported by customer, listing those who purchase more than 3,000 liters per transaction. These reports must be submitted to the Department of Energy Business by 6:00 p.m. daily, with copies sent to the Interior Ministry.
