Thailand To Introduce ‘Fuel Now’ App For Real-time Petrol Station Updates
By Wilawan Watcharasakwet & Kenny Teng
BANGKOK, March 23 (Bernama) -- Thailand will roll out a “Fuel Now” application on Tuesday (March 24) to provide real-time updates on petrol station availability nationwide, as part of measures to manage fuel shortages and reduce panic buying.
Deputy Director-General of Energy Business Department Wutthitat Tantivess said the application will provide real-time updates on petrol station availability nationwide.
“The application will provide real-time updates on 139 petrol stations nationwide, indicating fuel availability by type and whether stations are operational, enabling the public to better plan their travel during the current situation,” he told reporters at the Centre for Managing and Monitoring the Situation of the Conflict in the Middle East (CMCMME) on Monday.
He added that oil traders have been instructed to submit daily reports on trading volumes and pricing to prevent hoarding.
Authorities have also ordered service stations not to refuse fuel sales to emergency services, such as ambulances, as well as agricultural users, Wutthitat said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director of the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) Wacharin Boonrit said the Energy Ministry has introduced measures to stabilise domestic oil prices by utilising the Oil Fuel Fund to subsidise costs and ease the burden on the public.
He said retail diesel prices currently stand at 31.14 baht (RM3.72) per litre, while gasohol E20 is priced at 33.05 baht (RM3.95) per litre.
He said the government is also promoting biofuels such as biodiesel, with the blending ratio adjusted from B5 to B7 to support domestic energy consumption and reduce reliance on imported oil.
The ministry reiterated that Thailand has sufficient oil reserves for approximately 103 days of consumption, comprising 1.504 billion litres of commercial reserves, 3.389 billion litres of legally mandated reserves, 4.2 billion litres in transit, and a further 3.7 billion litres secured under procurement contracts.
-- BERNAMA
