The leader of the Thai Ruam Palang Party revealed that although the government insists there is no shortage, this contradicts the facts as border residents still have to queue for fuel. He recommends temporarily delaying oil exports to neighboring countries.
On 23 March 2026 at the Chong Mek border checkpoint in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Mr. Wasawat Puangpornsi, a party-list Member of Parliament and leader of the Thai Ruam Palang Party, visited the area to inspect the situation regarding oil exports to neighboring countries after receiving complaints from locals about fuel problems.
Mr. Wasawat said that although the government insists there is no national fuel shortage, the reality in many areas, especially border regions, shows people having to queue for long periods, and some are unable to refuel, causing hardship in daily life and livelihoods.
He proposed that relevant agencies consider reviewing, slowing down, or temporarily restricting oil exports to neighboring countries to lessen the impact and prioritize addressing the concerns of domestic residents.
"The people's hardships must be resolved first. Even if the overall supply is said to be sufficient, if people cannot access fuel, it remains a problem that requires urgent attention," Mr. Wasawat said.
However, Mr. Wasawat emphasized that this approach is only a temporary measure to ease the situation domestically and that oil management should be efficient alongside clear communication of information to the public.