Bangkok: Major oil retailers have started implementing fuel quantity limits as the energy crisis begins to affect daily life. Several gas stations have announced restrictions on the amount of fuel they can sell to customers.
According to Thai News Agency, on March 13, Bangchak gas stations introduced measures to limit fuel purchases due to a tight energy supply, requesting customer cooperation in restricting their daily fuel purchases. The key measures included prohibiting refueling containers, with exceptions for farmers and businesses with essential needs, who were allowed up to 3,000 baht per vehicle per day. Four-wheeled vehicles were limited to a maximum of 700 baht per vehicle per day. However, Bangchak has since removed this announcement and canceled the restrictions, allowing customers to refuel as usual.
PTT issued two announcements, with the first on March 14, 2026, by PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR), urging dealers to manage fuel dispensing appropriately at stations. Selling fuel without using a meter was prohibited, with violators facing penalties. For four-wheeled vehicles, a recommendation was made not to exceed 500 baht per unit, while vehicles with six wheels or more were advised not to exceed 1,000 baht per vehicle. Vehicles using Fleet Cards were recommended to purchase fuel at a maximum rate of 3,000-5,000 baht per vehicle, except for V Cards, which were limited to 100 liters.
Government vehicles performing public service duties were advised to be considered for priority refueling by the station, including fire trucks, rescue vehicles, disaster relief vehicles, and emergency medical vehicles.
On March 15, 2026, PTT Public Company Limited clarified the service situation at gas stations nationwide, following a recent increase in public demand for fuel. The announcement reassured that PTT Station service stations remain open and continue selling fuel as usual. The guidelines for managing fuel sales were described as preparedness measures in anticipation of exceptionally high fuel demand, but the overall situation at service stations remains manageable, with sufficient fuel to meet demand.
The company stated that it will continue to monitor the situation closely and manage the transportation and distribution of fuel to ensure public access to services without interruption.
In a related incident, the Facebook page of the National Institute of Emergency Medical Services (NIEMS) posted a message urging gas stations nationwide to facilitate refueling for emergency medical service vehicles and ambulances to ensure timely response during emergencies. This request followed a Facebook user's post showing an ambulance running out of fuel while on duty, forcing the crew to push it in the middle of the road. The incident occurred in Sri Mahosot District, Prachinburi Province, where rescue workers were transporting a patient and faced a shortage of diesel at multiple gas stations. Eventually, another vehicle was coordinated to pick up the patient while the stranded van was moved.