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7-Day Deadline! Energy Ministry Pressed to Overhaul Refinery Prices

7-Day Deadline! Energy Ministry Pressed to Overhaul Refinery Prices

Prachachat•General•2d ago

Reader Briefing

Public groups demand a 7-day overhaul of Thailand's energy pricing structure, aiming to reduce fuel costs by over 7 baht per liter.

  • •Civil groups have issued a 7-day ultimatum to the Ministry of Energy to reform the national energy pricing structure.
  • •The proposed reforms aim to reduce oil prices by over 7 baht per liter by eliminating 'fictitious costs' and capping refining margins.
  • •Key demands include revoking the import parity pricing formula and a fairer marketing margin, with calls to reclaim excess profits from refineries.
  • •The Ministry of Energy has committed to reviewing the proposals urgently, with some immediate actions being considered.

Overview

  • •On May 22, 2026, a coalition of public groups submitted a 5-point proposal to the Minister of Energy, demanding an energy structure overhaul within 7 days.
  • •The public groups stated that if proposed refining cost and marketing margin reductions are implemented, oil prices will immediately drop by more than 7 baht per liter.
  • •The public groups are demanding the cancellation of the import parity pricing formula and a cap on refining margins at 1.48 baht per liter to reduce prices.
  • •The current pricing structure has been in place for over 30 years and is criticized for including 'fictitious costs' such as transportation and insurance.
  • •The proposal seeks to reduce refining margins to approximately 1.48 - 1.60 baht per liter, potentially lowering prices by 6.45 - 6.57 baht.
  • •Rosana Tositrakul stated that refinery profits have increased by hundreds of percent in the first quarter, and excess profits can be used to reduce oil prices immediately.
  • •The Ministry of Energy has confirmed that urgent proposals will be presented to the Minister for rapid consideration, with some actionable items.
  • •The Ministry of Energy is actively investigating oil hoarding cases, having compiled evidence from over 166 instances, to pursue legal action against perpetrators.

Full article content is available on the original source.

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Source: Prachachat (Original)

Key Quotes

Panthap Puwongphant
"If refining costs and marketing margins are reduced as proposed, oil prices will immediately drop by more than 7 baht per liter, which can be done at once."
ถ้าลดค่าการกลั่น และปรับค่าการตลาดตามข้อเสนอ จะทำให้ราคาน้ำมันลดลงได้มากกว่า 7 บาทต่อลิตรทันที ซึ่งเป็นสิ่งที่สามารถดำเนินการได้ทันที
Rosana Tositrakul
"Singapore market standard refining margins of $4-7 per barrel are already profitable for refineries. We can reclaim excess profits immediately to reduce oil prices for the public."
ค่าการกลั่นตามมาตรฐานสิงคโปร์ อยู่ที่ 4 – 7 เหรียญต่อบาร์เรล เป็นราคาที่โรงกลั่นได้กำไรอยู่แล้ว เราสามารถเรียกกำไรส่วนเกินเพื่อมาลดราคาน้ำมันให้กับประชาชนได้ทันที
Pongphol Yodmeecharoen
"We will definitely pursue the perpetrators, no matter where they are in the system. They must be held fully accountable to restore fairness for the people."
เราจะตามไปถึงตัวการให้ได้แน่นอน ไม่ว่าจะอยู่จุดไหนของระบบ ต้องเอาผิดให้ถึงที่สุด และทวงคืนความเป็นธรรมให้ประชาชน

Key Entities

Organization

Public Sector / Civil Groups(ภาคประชาชน)
Coalition of organizations advocating for energy price reform.
Ministry of Energy(กระทรวงพลังงาน)ℹ️
Thai government ministry responsible for energy policy.
Joint Working Group for Consideration of Energy Price Structure Adjustment Proposals of the People's Network(คณะทำงานร่วมเพื่อพิจารณาข้อเสนอการปรับโครงสร้างราคาพลังงานของเครือข่ายประชาชน)
The coalition of public groups that submitted the 5-point energy reform proposal.
Consumer Council(สภาผู้บริโภค)
An organization representing consumers, a member of the joint working group for energy reform.
Foundation for the Guardians of the Land(มูลนิธิยามเฝ้าแผ่นดิน)
An organization involved in advocacy for public interests, a member of the joint working group.
Thai People's Network for Energy Reform(เครือข่ายประชาชนปฏิรูปพลังงานไทย)
A network advocating for reform in Thailand's energy sector, a member of the joint working group.
Butterfly Effect Group(กลุ่มผีเสื้อกระพือปีก)
An activist group involved in the public's energy reform advocacy.
Office of the Energy Policy and Planning (OEPP)(สำนักงานนโยบายและแผนพลังงาน (สนพ.))
A government agency that will study and propose solutions regarding B100 prices.
Energy Policy and Planning Committee (EPPC)(คณะกรรมการบริหารนโยบายพลังงาน (กบง.))
A committee that previously made a resolution regarding the marketing margin for oil in February 2020.
Fuel Fund(กองทุนน้ำมันเชื้อเพลิง)
A fund that collects money from fuel users, which public groups want to reform to cease collection from individuals.

Person

Rosana Tositrakul and Panthap Puwongphant(รสนา-ปานเทพ)
Key figures from civil society organizations leading the push for energy price reform.
Panthap Puwongphant(ปานเทพ พัวพงษ์พันธ์)
President of the Foundation for the Guardians of the Land, a leading advocate for energy price reform.
Ekkanat Prompan(เอกนัฎ พร้อมพันธุ์)
Minister of Energy at the time the proposal was previously submitted in April 2026.
M.L. Korkasivat Kaseomsri(ม.ล.กรกสิวัฒน์ เกษมศรี)
An energy academic commenting on the current energy pricing structure.
Rosana Tositrakul(นางสาวรสนา โตสิตระกูล)
Chairperson of the Subcommittee on Public Services, Energy, and Environment of the Consumer Council, advocating for price reform.
Pongphol Yodmeecharoen(นายพงศ์พล ยอดเมืองเจริญ)
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy, responding to the public's proposals.

Law

Import Parity Pricing Formula(Import Parity)
The pricing formula for oil based on the cost of importing, which is being targeted for reform.

Timeline

May 22, 2026(22 พฤษภาคม 2026)
The date the public groups submitted their 5-point proposal to the Minister of Energy.
April 16, 2026(16 เมษายน 2026)
The date when a previous proposal of 8 points was submitted to the Minister of Energy.
February 21, 2020(21 กุมภาพันธ์ 2020)
The date of the resolution by the Energy Policy and Planning Committee (EPPC) to set the marketing margin for oil.
2020 – 2026
The period from which the average refining margin is being calculated based on market data.