“Anutin said Thailand was exposed to the crisis because of its reliance on imported oil and gas, and the country could not be complacent.”

“I also request the cooperation of all citizens and the private sector to conserve energy in the same way, whether it’s through WFH (work from home) or WFA (work from anywhere), reducing the use of personal cars and switching to public transportation, carpooling, and using electricity responsibly.”

“The Thai government had already suspended most overseas trips for its workers, and instructed officials to wear short-sleeved shirts without ties, except during ceremonies, to reduce the need for air conditioning.”

“Across Asia, governments have taken steps to try to conserve energy, with countries such as Sri Lanka and the Philippines introducing four-day weeks for many public-sector staff, and Vietnam calling for employees to work from home.”

“On Monday, Indonesia announced a 28 percentage point rise in the surcharge on jet fuel and said it would allow airlines to raise domestic ticket prices by up to 13%.”

“The soaring energy costs have caused misery for farmers as well as the transport and travel sector, which is gearing up for Songkran, Thailand’s traditional new year holiday.”

“Some tourism businesses fear this year’s festivities will be quieter due to the rising cost of flights and disruption to aviation.”