Chonburi, March 22nd, 2026
Officials from the Department of Provincial Administration and Chonburi Province inspected Thai Oil’s refinery and storage facilities, finding that fuel allocation and distribution remain normal. However, a sharp increase in public demand has caused many other petrol stations across the country to run dry quickly.
Led by Mr. Naruecha Khosa Siwilai, Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, and Mr. Naris Niramaiwong, Chonburi Governor, the inspection team, including provincial officials, energy authorities, police, and local administrators, visited the Thai Oil refinery and storage depot to review stock management and nationwide distribution. They then inspected nine service stations in the Sri Racha district to check storage levels, sales practices, and gather feedback from waiting customers.
The inspection revealed the following key points:
1. Refinery production capacity and allocation to service stations remain unchanged from levels before the escalation of conflict in the Middle East.
2. Petrol stations in Chonburi Province, including those serving trucks, continue to receive their normal quotas, with some receiving slightly higher allocations to avoid disrupting freight transport.
3. Overall consumer demand has risen significantly, causing fuel at many stations to sell out faster than usual.
4. Motorists from distant provinces have been arriving in large numbers to refuel in Chonburi. License plates from Phrae, Nakhon Sawan, Roi Et, Surin, Nong Khai, Samut Prakan, Chachoengsao, Ratchaburi, and Ayutthaya were commonly seen. Many stations in the area operate 24 hours, leading to long queues at Thai Oil pumps.
Chonburi Governor Naris Niramaiwong has instructed all relevant agencies, including district chiefs, police, kamnan, and village heads, to coordinate traffic management, distribute cold towels and drinking water, and provide other support services to reduce stress for people waiting in line.
Long queues and out-of-province visitors
The atmosphere at Thai Oil stations in Sri Racha has been exceptionally busy, with vehicles lining up for hours. Many drivers reported visiting five or six stations in their home areas or along the route only to find them out of diesel. Social media posts informed them that Thai Oil stations in Sri Racha still had sufficient supplies, albeit with a 600-litre limit per car.
One driver from Bangkok, speaking while seated in his pickup truck, said he had traveled to Chonburi to pay respects to ancestors during the Cheng Meng festival. After passing multiple empty stations along the bypass, he was relieved to find fuel at Thai Oil. “I’m lucky there’s still diesel here. I don’t know how people in faraway provinces are managing,” he added.
Some motorists began queuing as early as 2 a.m. to be ready when pumps opened at 5 a.m.
The situation reflects heightened public anxiety over fuel availability amid regional tensions, even though authorities have repeatedly confirmed that national production and reserves remain stable. Local officials continue to monitor the situation closely and urge the public to refuel normally without panic buying.
