CHIANG RAI – Fuel supplies at gas stations across Chiang Rai have dropped fast after drivers rushed in to fill up. All day on March 3, people lined up to top off their tanks and fill extra containers. By evening, several stations reported running out of fuel and shutting down ahead of schedule.
Local reports said some stations ran out of diesel first, while others ran out of Gasohol 95. A few locations still had certain fuel types available, but they limited service or paused sales as their stock ran out.
On March 4, reporters in Chiang Rai said the rush began because many residents worried about the Middle East conflict. In particular, concern spread over news related to Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, more people than usual headed to stations and asked for full tanks, which pushed demand up quickly.
By late March 3, many stations across the province posted notices that fuel was out, then closed early. The heavy demand hit both city areas and border districts.
Provincial Energy Office chief Prasak Ngamsombhak, along with Chiang Rai Commerce Office head Suphamit Tengphao, joined local administrators and police to inspect service stations. Teams focused on the Thai-Myanmar border areas, especially Mae Sai and Mae Chan.
During checks, officials found several stations had temporarily stopped selling fuel or closed early because they ran out of stock. Station operators said they expected new fuel shipments to arrive starting the morning of March 4. After deliveries, they said normal service should return for all fuel types.
Suphamit Tengphao said the Commerce Ministry and Energy Ministry had reviewed the situation and confirmed Thailand still has enough fuel to meet demand. She said the country keeps reserves for about 30 to 60 days, even during crises.
She also asked the public not to panic. If people notice unusual behavior, such as a station closing without a clear reason, they can report it to the Department of Internal Trade hotline at 1569 or contact the Chiang Rai Provincial Commerce Office.
Reports also mentioned activity in Tachileik, Myanmar, across from Chiang Rai. Some sellers there reportedly bought fuel from stations and poured it into small containers for resale. Prices rose quickly.
Earlier in the day, a 1.50-liter bottle reportedly sold for 100 to 200 baht. By evening, the price climbed to about 250 baht, while the amount dropped to around 700 milliliters.
