Commerce Minister Cham Nimul said on March 12 that nearly 2,000 fuel outlets nationwide had temporarily closed. Figures as of the evening of March 11 showed about 2,000 closures among more than 6,300 fuel stations, depots and distribution outlets. Most operators said they had exhausted their stocks. The government decided to investigate the actual situation.
Cham Nimul said some closed stations might be holding fuel in anticipation of higher prices. Specialist enforcement officers were sent to check stocks and sales on site to determine whether there had been violations.
She said operators found deliberately withholding existing stocks from the public would face fines under the law and, in serious cases, possible licence revocation. If stocks had genuinely run out, the government would coordinate with importers to replenish supply and ensure normal market operations.
