PM monitoring impacts from blockage of cargo traffic in Suez Canal
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha is monitoring the situation in the Suez Canal after a grounded large ship has blocked the passage of hundreds of cargo ships.
The PM is looking into the impacts and considering measures to help Thai entrepreneurs, deputy government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit said that he had told the overseas commercial office to prepare to coordinate with importers and exporters to request an extension of delivery time. Officials will also take care of exporters if they consider changing the transport route to the Cape of Good Hope to deliver their products, which would cost more and take a longer time.
Ratchada said that according to the assessment of the Energy Policy and Planning Office, Thailand's energy supply, including oil, liquefied petroleum gas and liquefied natural gas, will not be affected as the quantity of natural gas imports through this route is not high and operators have managed to use other routes. People should not worry about shortage of fuel, as it is imported from many production sources. Moreover, entrepreneurs have sufficient stocks of oil in accordance with the amount required by law, Ratchada said.