Thailand’s interim government has directed federal agencies and selected state-owned enterprises to immediately implement work-from-home (WFH) arrangements as part of broader efforts to reduce energy consumption amid rising geopolitical uncertainty in West Asia.
Government spokesperson Lalida Prertwiwatthana said the directive targets departments whose operations can continue remotely without disrupting public service delivery.
“The policy is intended to enhance efficiency in the management of government resources while ensuring essential services remain accessible to the public,” she said in a statement following the Cabinet meeting.
Lalida added that the Office of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has also instructed government agencies to postpone overseas official visits and replace international training programmes with domestic activities.
The move is aimed at reducing operational costs and energy expenditure within the public sector.
Despite the shift towards remote working, Lalida stressed that agencies must ensure that services provided to the public continue without interruption.
The government is also closely monitoring global energy developments and may further refine its existing policies if the situation worsens, she added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Government Spokesperson Airin Phanpharit revealed that Thailand consumes an average of approximately 124 million litres of refined petroleum products daily.
As of March 5, the country’s oil reserves stood at about 8.055 billion litres, including both commercial stocks and legally mandated strategic reserves.
Thailand’s refined oil consumption is estimated at roughly 3.13 million barrels per day, with the majority of its crude oil supply imported from West Asia.
Although current reserves are considered sufficient to meet much of the country’s short-term energy demand, Airin said the government believes additional conservation measures are necessary, particularly within the public sector, to set an example for other sectors of society.
The Energy Ministry has proposed several additional energy-saving initiatives for government agencies. These include increasing the use of high-efficiency equipment, improving electricity management systems and reducing physical office operations to minimise national energy consumption.
The measures form part of Thailand’s broader long-term strategy to safeguard energy security, especially as tensions in West Asia continue to pose potential risks to global oil markets.
-HR HUB
