Fuel consumption in Thailand contracted by 12.5% last year because of strict state measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, including a lockdown order, according to the Department of Energy Business (DOEB).
The government did not enforce a nationwide lockdown for the fresh outbreak starting last December, but a new round of travel restrictions affected the energy sector.
DOEB chief Nantika Thangsuphanich said jet fuel consumption had the steepest decline last year with a 62.3% contraction for average consumption of 7.3 million litres per day, while compressed natural gas contracted by 28.3% to 3,900 tonnes per day.
Demand for other types of fuels also declined.
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumption contracted by 13.7% to 15,400 tonnes per day; bunker oil fell by 11.2% to 4.7 million litres per day; diesel decreased by 2.9% to 65.4 million litres per day; and gasoline dipped by 1.5% to 33.8 million litres per day.
The decline in fuel consumption mostly took place from April to May when land and air transport was restricted.
All fuel imports to Thailand decreased by 8% to an average of 882,398 barrel per day (BPD).
Crude oil imports declined by 1.1% to an average of 845,113 BPD at a cost of 37.2 billion baht per month.
Imported refined oil, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and LPG, also declined by 64.2% to an average of 37,285 BPD.
Export of refined oil rose by 12.4% to an average of 185,962 BPD, earning 8.33 billion baht in revenue per month.
Meanwhile, the Oil Fuel Fund Administration Office (Offo) yesterday announced it is continuing to subsidise LPG prices for households until the end of March this year.
The retail price of a standard-sized 15-kilogramme LPG cylinder is 318 baht, excluding transport expense.
The Energy Policy Administration Committee agreed to renew the subsidy scheme, which ended last Monday.
Offo chief Wisak Watanasap said the renewal is in line with the government's policy to relieve people's financial burdens during the downturn, though funds allocated for the LPG segment are dwindling.