Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office and Government Spokesperson, Mr Sonexay Sithphaxay (left), and Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mr Chanthaboun Soukaloun, speak at a press briefing on Wednesday.

Fuel supply remains stable, govt reassures public

The government has stated that fuel supplies remain manageable, while urging members of the public to conserve fuel amid global supply uncertainty.
“Domestic fuel supply remains at a manageable level, with sufficient reserves available for a period of time,” Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office and Government Spokesperson, Mr Sonexay Sithphaxay, said when addressing a press briefing on Wednesday alongside Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mr Chanthaboun Soukaloun.
The reassuring message was delivered in response to growing public concern and social media reports about fuel shortages.
Mr Sonexay said the situation has been influenced by instability in the Middle East, a region that produces and exports large volumes of oil worldwide. Disruption has affected fuel production and exports, driving up prices and tightening supply in several countries, including Laos.
The government is closely monitoring the situation and working with ministries and provincial authorities to ensure fuel continues to reach the general public and key development projects, he said.
Temporary shortages reported at some petrol stations were mainly caused by delays in transporting fuel from storage depots to pumps, rather than an actual shortage of fuel in the country, he added.
The government has also coordinated with neighbouring countries through existing cooperation mechanisms to maintain imports and stabilise supply.
Mr Sonexay said the government has prepared both short-term and medium-term response measures to manage the situation.
“We have put in place emergency measures covering periods of one to 30 days and three to 12 months,” he said. “These measures will be reviewed and adjusted as the situation changes.”
According to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, fuel imports this month have fallen slightly compared to normal levels, but the drop is not significant.
Amid a spike in global oil prices, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mr Chanthaboun Soukaloun, said the government has taken steps to limit price increases caused by higher import costs.
“One measure already in place is a reduction of about 200 kip per litre across all fuel types,” he said.
He added that the government is also considering subsidies, especially for diesel, which is widely used in transport, agriculture, and production. The relevant sectors are evaluating the subsidy amount per litre and expect to finalise their calculations within the next two days.
Mr Chanthaboun also noted that the introduction of new measures must comply with Lao law.
Adjustments to tariff rates and other pricing measures cannot be carried out immediately because they must be submitted to the National Assembly for approval.
“We will consider what steps can be taken if adjustments beyond the legal framework are required,” Mr Chanthaboun said.
“In that case, a proposal must be submitted to the National Assembly for additional consideration if necessary, alongside the measures already being put in place.”
Mr Chanthaboun said Laos relies entirely on imported fuel because the country has no domestic oil reserves or refinery. During the ongoing disruption, some oil shipping routes have reportedly closed, reducing global supply by nearly 20 percent.
At the same time, people rushed to petrol stations, which slowed the distribution of fuel from depots to pumps and created temporary shortages in some areas.
Mr Chanthaboun stressed that the overall situation is under control but urged people to use fuel carefully.
“Although fuel imports remain manageable and the situation is not in severe crisis, volumes are naturally lower than before,” he said.
“The most important thing now is for everyone to help conserve fuel.”
He added that Laos depends entirely on imported fuel and that several factors remain uncertain.
“There are unpredictable factors because we rely on fuel purchased from other countries, and whether suppliers will always have fuel available to sell us is something we cannot fully guarantee,” Mr Chanthaboun said.
“The best course of action is to start conserving fuel today so we can build up reserves for when they are truly needed.”
The government has called on civil servants, businesses and the public to reduce unnecessary travel and fuel consumption. People are also encouraged to use public transport, consider electric vehicles, and adopt other energy-saving practices.
Authorities are also warning businesses not to hoard fuel or raise prices unfairly. The public can report suspected price gouging through the Ministry of Industry and Commerce hotline at 1510 or via its consumer protection website.
Mr Sonexay said public unity and cooperation will help the country manage the situation and avoid unnecessary disruption.

By Phonepaseuth Volakhoun
(Latest Update March 12, 2026 )