Oil crisis or confidence crisis? Although the government says supply is sufficient, fuel stations lack enough for customers to fill up. Long queues form, and some places exploit the situation by hoarding fuel and selling it at higher prices.
The war in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has triggered a severe global oil crisis, and Thailand is inevitably affected. Despite government assurances of having over 100 days of oil reserves, the reality is that many gas stations are running low. Citizens face long daily queues to refuel; some wait over half a day, while others cannot find fuel at all.
The key question is: where is the oil that should be in the system actually going? What lies behind this issue? The SEE TRUE news team will reveal the truth.
The team visited Mae Sot District in Tak Province to follow up on the fuel crisis. Speaking with a local resident waiting in line, the person said they had been waiting since 10 a.m. and by 2 p.m. still had not refueled, having done nothing but wait for over four hours. When asked whether the government's claim of sufficient oil matched reality, the resident said it did not.
“They say not to panic or be alarmed, but that’s impossible now because we already are alarmed. We just have to struggle on with our lives.”
The difficulties experienced are the responsibility of state officials to assist the public. The team surveyed various gas stations and encountered local administrative officers on duty. The officers said the situation in Mae Sot is quite tight due to slow transport. They were ordered to monitor the public and prevent foreigners from refueling, as even Thai citizens do not have enough fuel. They have informed the Myanmar side, so no vehicles from Myanmar are currently queuing here.
However, although officials prohibit foreign vehicles from refueling, the SEE TRUE team investigated and found vehicles from Myanmar acting suspiciously. They avoided entering gas stations directly to refuel, instead sending people to carry fuel cans inside. This is believed to be for travel and daily use, since fuel in Myanmar is much scarcer and more expensive than in Thailand.
Meanwhile, the government has intensified crackdowns on fuel hoarding. On 10 March 2026, Attawut Chancharoen, District Defense Chief of Mae Sot, reported discovering hoarded diesel exceeding the legal limit by 10,800 liters, based on tips from citizens and coordinated efforts with police and military. This large-scale hoarding reflects profit motives, as selling the fuel in Myawaddy, Myanmar, could yield profits of 30-40 baht per liter, totaling around 300,000 to 400,000 baht.
Additionally, the SEE TRUE team uncovered evidence of gas stations exploiting the crisis by raising prices. Some stations erected barriers and posted signs stating “Diesel Sold Out.” Yet behind the station, a sign displayed the diesel price as 38.50 baht per liter. The team covertly recorded evidence while questioning staff, who confirmed fuel was being offloaded and offered to register names and phone numbers to reserve at that price.
Today's fuel crisis may not have begun with an actual shortage, but rather with a loss of confidence. As people’s trust erodes, panic follows, and the sight of long queues only reinforces that feeling. Meanwhile, gaps in the situation allow some groups to exploit scarcity for profit.
Thus, the question is not just whether there is enough oil, but how trustworthy the management system is. On the day oil begins to disappear, so too does the public’s confidence across the nation.
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