Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul has stressed the need for Thailand to restructure its energy use to cope with global crisis and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

The Prime Minister said that he had participated in the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Plus Online Summit, hosted by Japan via videoconference on 15 April 2026, at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

The summit brought together leaders from AZEC member countries including ฺฺBangladesh, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam, as well as ministerial representatives from Australia, Brunei Darussalam, India, South Korea, and Sri Lanka. Relevant international organizations, such as the International Energy Agency and the Asian Development Bank, also joined the summit.

During this summit, Thailand welcomed Japan-led initiative to support AZEC member countries through financing procurement of crude oil and petroleum products, maintaining supply chains in Asia, and addressing structural responses. This initiative also aims to simultaneously achieve energy security, economic growth, and decarbonization.

The Prime Minister was of the view that the ongoing energy crisis would provide an opportunity to advance the transition to alternative energy and net zero emissions. Regarding the Middle East tensions, he said that the Thai government has been closely monitoring the situation, especially impacts of high energy prices and crude oil imports. Thailand needs to implement precautionary measures for energy management, as well.

Speaking at a press briefing at Government House, Prime Minister Anutin thanked the public for their cooperation in energy-saving, which has contributed to rising oil reserves. However, the Government must continue to emphasize strict management to maintain energy security.

In order to help ease the cost of living for the people, the Government will also introduce various measures, including subsidized electricity rates for the first 200 units for households. The Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Interior are working closely together in distributing consumer products of good quality at low prices to people in all districts across the country.