Thailand is considering enforcing overnight closures of petrol stations beginning later this month, the Prime Minister said on Tuesday (April 7, 2026), an effort to preserve fuel as the West Asia war has driven fears of shortages.
Anutin Charnvirakul, whose new cabinet was sworn in late Monday (April 6, 2026), told reporters in Bangkok that his government was weighing shutting down sales at petrol pumps from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., as early as April 20.
The Prime Minister assured Thais they would still be able to travel to their hometowns during the Songkran holiday period, officially observed from Monday (April 6, 2026) to Wednesday (April 8, 2026) next week.
“Petrol station closing hours may start after people return from their Songkran trips and resume normal life,” Mr. Anutin said.
Many Thais celebrate the annual Songkran new year festivities by road-tripping to their home provinces to visit family.
