The "Sudsai Team" is the nickname for the covert inspection unit under the Ministry of Industry during Aeknath Prompan’s tenure as Minister of Industry from 2024 to 2025. The team was led by Ms. Thitiphat Chotidetchainan (former Bangkok MP), who was nicknamed "O Sudsai." Now that he has moved to the Ministry of Energy, the Sudsai Team must prove its effectiveness in cracking down on operations driving up oil prices.
This team was established to work proactively with a "relentless" approach (going all the way), focusing mainly on suppressing illegal factories and corporate groups violating industrial regulations.
Notable achievements:
Cracking down on illegal factories and gray-market Chinese investors: Raided and ordered the closure of recycling factories illegally importing electronic waste and scrap rubber in Rayong and Chonburi provinces.
Seizing substandard products (TIS standards): Conducted widespread inspections to confiscate poor-quality goods flooding into Thailand, such as battery cells, power banks, and electrical appliances lacking Thai Industrial Standards certification, protecting legitimate Thai businesses.
Proactive operations: Emphasized tracking and expanding investigations based on citizen tips without waiting for problems to escalate.
When Aeknath assumed the position of Minister of Energy (as of April 2026), he immediately applied the "Sudsai" style to the oil price crisis, announcing key measures on 7 April 2026 as follows:
Cutting the refining margin: Exercising authority under the Petroleum Depletion Prevention Act B.E. 2516 (1973), he ordered a 2 baht per liter reduction in the refinery gate price for diesel, after identifying abnormal spikes in refining margins during the Middle East crisis (normally 2-3 baht, soaring to 7-14 baht).
Price structure adjustment: Changed the price reference formula from 100% Singapore prices to a "Singapore discount" model, also considering incorporating Dubai crude oil prices to reduce price volatility.
Establishing strategic petroleum reserves (SPR): Proposed that the government take responsibility for storing oil reserves instead of private companies to enhance energy security and prevent long-term speculation.
Positive view: He has the courage to confront refinery business groups through legal means that previous ministers often avoided. If the 2 baht refining margin cut is fully passed on at the pump, it could immediately ease the burden on the Oil Fund and lower fuel prices for consumers during Songkran 2026.
Controlling global market prices is difficult, and challenging refineries may affect investor confidence long-term. Also, the accumulated Oil Fund debt remains a significant obstacle preventing oil prices from dropping as much as hoped.