Supachot of the People's Party questions "Where has the oil gone?" and asks how the government will plug the leaks in the system. He recommends choosing a rational solution by providing "targeted subsidies" to the groups truly impacted.
On 24 Mar 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Supachot Chaisat, a list MP from the People's Party, commented on the oil crisis, noting the government's claim of sufficient supply while citizens queue for fuel that is unavailable. Reports have also emerged of oil hoarding in Ang Thong and oil transport vehicles near the Myanmar border.
Mr. Supachot said the oil shortage crisis has entered its fourth week. Media still show many citizens across various areas unable to refuel, clearly reflecting the government's complete failure to handle this national crisis. The measures taken so far are temporary fixes and, importantly, "do not address the problem comprehensively." They have allowed irregularities to occur at every stage of the oil distribution system.
Citizens have repeatedly asked, "Where has the oil gone?" but the government has failed to provide clear explanations. Meanwhile, small consumers bear the burden, scrambling for fuel, standing in long lines yet still unable to refuel, contradicting the government's constant assurance that "there is sufficient oil."
Mr. Supachot posed a key question to the government: "Where has the oil gone?" He asked how the government will plug the system's leaks, noting that the Prime Minister's latest order requiring daily production and sales reports from operators does not cover the entire system. It excludes oil transporters and small service stations, which are crucial parts of the oil supply chain. This means the government is not seeing the full picture and cannot confidently deny oil hoarding or illegal exports.
At the same time, although the government has some information, it has not disclosed it transparently to the public or provided verifiable figures. This raises public doubts about whether the data is sufficient or if the government is deliberately withholding information. Daily news still reports oil hoarding incidents and the arrest of oil transport vehicles near neighboring borders.
Mr. Supachot said that if the government truly has complete data, what the public wants is not vague explanations but "serious law enforcement." If hoarding occurs, investigations must be thorough and extended, not just quick checks that fade from news after a day. For example, the case of 300,000 liters of hoarded oil in Ang Thong province occurred several days ago but remains under document review. The government's delays and lack of clarity increase risks of worsening national damage and allow certain business groups to speculate and profit from the public's hardship.
Mr. Supachot also emphasized the unavoidable issue of oil flowing out of the country. With Thailand's domestic prices kept below world market levels, incentives increase for illegal exports or opportunistic sales in higher-priced markets.
A recent example is the seizure of 20,000 liters of smuggled oil in Tak province near the border with a neighboring country. The government must decisively impose temporary export quotas or controls to maintain domestic stability. It cannot allow a situation where "foreign countries have oil but Thai people cannot find fuel," while energy profiteers make huge profits.
Regarding price relief measures, the government still lacks precision in using tools. The current high oil costs cannot be fixed by indiscriminate subsidies across the system, as this will rapidly deplete the fuel fund, which is nearly at its limit, eventually burdening the whole population with debt.
The government should choose a more reasonable solution: "targeted subsidies" directed to groups truly affected and whose cost of living is impacted, such as transport workers, farmers, or small businesses. Using a system where recipients pay first and then claim refunds from the state would reduce burdens efficiently, control budgets, and prevent leakages seen in blanket subsidy measures.
Mr. Supachot concluded that this crisis is not just about oil shortages but challenges the government to decide whether to address it transparently or continue the same ineffective approach of the past month — blaming the public, failing to identify the real oil hoarders, or knowingly allowing the shortage to persist while insiders profit enormously.