Thailand investigates five more oil depots over fuel supply anomalies
Working with the Department of Energy Business, a subcommittee called in 33 parties after nationwide checks identified unusual activity at several oil depots.
- The investigation was launched after on-site checks revealed unusual activity, including depots receiving fuel without dispatching it, holding it for long periods, and delaying sales.
- Five more depots were identified for displaying irregular business practices, with some holding average fuel stocks about 1.67 million litres above normal.
- The evidence has been sent to the Trade Competition Commission of Thailand (TCCT) to investigate potential offences under trade competition and price control laws.
- Authorities suspect the actions may be linked to fuel stockpiling or holding back sales for speculative gain, which may have contributed to shortages.
Thitipat Chotidechachainan, secretary to the energy minister and chair of the committee conducting intensive inspections for energy reform, said on-site checks of fuel intake and dispatch volumes at oil depots nationwide in February and March 2026 had identified unusual activity at some facilities.
She then instructed a subcommittee to work with the Department of Energy Business to call in 33 parties from across the country, including suspected operators and oil-depot customers, to provide information during July and August.
The information showed that in February, before the crisis, intake and dispatch volumes at most depots were broadly similar, as was normally the case.
By early March, however, several depots were showing irregular patterns, including receiving fuel without dispatching it, holding fuel for long periods and delaying sales.
Customers also indicated that there may have been refusals to sell fuel.
Whether this was linked to fuel shortages in several areas at the time requires further examination.
Five more depots were identified as displaying unusual business activity.
At some sites, average fuel stocks were about 1.67 million litres above normal.
The information and supporting documentary evidence were sent to the Trade Competition Commission of Thailand (TCCT) and the Department of Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce for examination and verification of the facts under the Trade Competition Act 2017 and the Price of Goods and Services Act 1999.
The TCCT will now investigate the matter.
If it finds conduct that may constitute an offence under the Trade Competition Act, legal proceedings will follow.
Complaints seeking legal action have so far been filed against a total of 21 traders.
For future prevention, the Ministry of Energy plans to upgrade management of the entire fuel supply system.
It will develop an alert system for cases in which a depot receives fuel but makes no dispatches, improve the fuel transport documentation system so routes can be tracked at all times, and establish mechanisms for working with provinces nationwide so situations can be monitored and managed quickly.
She said clear law-enforcement standards were needed to prevent a recurrence of fuel stockpiling or holding back fuel sales for speculative gain, which caused hardship to the public.
The ministry had therefore handed the TCCT evidence from its examination of traders whose conduct might constitute offences so that legal action could be pursued to the fullest extent in every respect.
