The Thai government has ordered civil servants to work from home as fuel shortages worsen due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its impact on global energy supplies.
Government spokesperson Lalita Perisawatana said Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has directed government employees to begin working from home from Wednesday as part of emergency energy-saving measures.
Authorities have also instructed offices to set air conditioner temperatures at 26°C to reduce electricity consumption. Employees have been encouraged to use stairs instead of elevators wherever possible.
Government departments have also been asked to switch off lights and electrical equipment when not in use. The administration is planning to seek cooperation from the public by promoting energy-saving measures such as car pooling.
In a statement, the government said stricter measures could be introduced if the situation worsens. These may include reducing lighting on billboards in shops, cinemas and commercial establishments and ordering fuel stations to close after 10 pm.
Thailand currently has energy reserves sufficient for about 45 days. Energy Minister Attapol Rerkpiboon said the government is working to secure additional liquefied natural gas imports from countries including Australia and South Africa.
Natural gas meets nearly 68 per cent of Thailand’s energy demand. According to the Energy Regulatory Commission, more than half of the country’s liquefied natural gas comes from domestic production, while about 35 per cent is imported and around 13 per cent is sourced from neighbouring Myanmar.
