Press Briefing
Joint Management and Monitoring Center for the Situation in the Middle East
18 March 2026

∙Speakers:
1. Panidone Pachimsawat
Acting Director-General of the Department of Information and Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affair
2. Patcharee Jongrak
Deputy Director-General of the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, Ministry of Energy
3. Kanitha Kangswanich
Inspector-General and Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce

∙Updates on the Situation in the Middle East
The conflict in the Middle East continues to intensify, with major Israeli strikes reported in Lebanon and Iran, including joint operations with the United States. Disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz are significantly impacting global oil prices. Iranian state media has confirmed the deaths of the Secretary of the National Security Council and the commander of the Basij forces under the IRGC. All Thai nationals in the region are strongly urged to evacuate as soon as possible and register with the nearest Thai embassy or consulate.

∙Evacuating Thai Nationals
Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkaew held calls on 17 March with the Foreign Ministers of Kuwait and Jordan, thanking both nations for their support in facilitating the safe return of Thai nationals. Two Thais successfully crossed from Iran into Van, Turkey on 17 March and are expected home the following day. The next evacuation round from Iran is scheduled for 25 March, with embassy staff coordinating land border crossings into Turkey. To date, 1,149 Thais have been successfully assisted out of the Middle East region.

Thai embassies and consulates across the region remain fully operational — providing essentials, coordinating flights where airspace remains open, and arranging overland routes through third countries where it does not.

∙Price Controls & Consumer Protection
The Ministry of Commerce has mobilized officials across all 76 provinces to conduct daily price monitoring and prevent hoarding or unjustified price hikes. Fuel prices are being jointly overseen with the Ministry of Energy through provincial price committees. Violations under the Price of Goods and Services Act B.E. 2542 (1999) carry penalties of up to 7 years imprisonment and/or fines up to THB 140,000 (~USD 4,330).
Domestic fertilizer stocks are sufficient through May, and the government is actively sourcing alternative suppliers while encouraging farmers to shift toward organic fertilizers. The "Green Flag Fertilizer" subsidy program will be expanded to cover peak planting months from May to August. Consumer goods remain in adequate supply nationwide — the public is encouraged to consume responsibly. To report price gouging, call the Department of Internal Trade hotline: 1569.

∙Energy Saving — "Save Energy Plus Squared" (ประหยัดพลังงาน พลัส ยกกำลัง 2)
The Ministry of Energy is implementing a multi-pronged approach to reduce the burden on Thai households and businesses:

* Industry and Commercial Buildings: Urged to reduce energy use in production, schedule high-energy machinery off-peak, and set AC to energy-saving temperatures
* Government Sector: A Cabinet-approved target of 10% energy reduction, including AC set at 26–27°C, switching to online meetings, and promoting Work from Home — projected to save ~660,000 liters of fuel and ~7.2 million electricity units per month
* Households: Solar Rooftop installation tax deductions of up to THB 200,000 (~USD 6,185), available 3 March 2026 – 31 December 2028; energy-efficient equipment purchases deductible at 1.5 times.
* Co-payment Program: Government subsidies of 20–30% (up to 3 million baht, or USD 92,789, per recipient) for upgrading to high-efficiency machinery — expected to cut ~10,000 TOE in energy use and reduce CO₂ by ~30,000 tons
* Transport Sector: 20–30% subsidies (up to 2 million baht, or USD 61,859, per operator) for fleet efficiency improvements

On 17 March, the Ministry of Energy hosted a major public event at EnCO C with representatives from the Federation of Thai Industries, the Thai Chamber of Commerce, 13 financial institutions, and 10 energy-efficient appliance retailers — signing collaborative agreements on initiatives including AC condenser cleaning campaigns and the promotion of No. 5 energy-efficiency label products.

The Ministry of Energy calls on all sectors to use energy responsibly — for Thailand's resilience today and energy security tomorrow.