Fuel shortage in Thailand: “Nine out of ten gas stations closed”

Jenny Martorell

Published 20.47
 

There is a major shortage of fuel, especially diesel, in Thailand right now.

Drivers have to queue for hours at the few gas stations that are open, says Swede Markus Rinne on site.

– It seems to be getting worse every day, he says.

The queues at gas stations are winding long in several places in the country, including the tourist island of Koh Lanta where Markus Rinne, 34, and his partner have been on a three-week vacation.

Where they have been, it all started last week – perhaps because people noticed that the fuel would soon run out, he says.

Since then, the queues have only gotten longer and longer.

– Today when we left there, we saw that nine out of ten gas stations were closed. The only two that were open had really long queues, it must take a few hours to get there anyway, says Markus Rinne.

          

          Photo: Grant Peck / AP

Conversation with Russia

They noticed that the taxi driver they were traveling with, who needs gasoline to be able to do his job, seemed stressed by the situation.

– He said he hasn't seen this in ten years. He tried to fill up everywhere and talked to different people on the phone, says Markus Rinne.

Thailand is one of several Asian countries that is dependent on oil exports from the Middle East.

Due to the crisis, Thailand has discussed buying crude oil with Russia, Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced on Tuesday according to Reuters. At the time, the country was reported to have oil reserves that would last for just over 100 more days.

Canceling cremations

A large number of drivers in Chiang Mai also had to wait for up to an hour on Sunday – only to be told that the fuel had run out, local media reports.

And in northeastern Thailand, a large temple announced this week that it is canceling cremations. This is because several gas stations have refused to let them fill their cans with fuel.

Markus Rinne and his partner are in Bangkok and will soon return home to Sweden.

– For those who need the gas, it is probably shocking. We tourists are still here, even if there is no gas.