Thailand orders bureaucrats in its energy-saving drive to use stairs instead of elevators and to work from home

A government spokesperson said that the Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had ordered civil servants to conserve energy due to the energy crisis caused by the Middle East conflict. This included suspending overseas trips and using the stairs instead of elevators.

Lalida Periswiwatana, a spokesperson for the prime minister, told reporters that civil servants must now work from home. However, officials who serve the public will be exempted. Southeast Asia's second-largest economic powerhouse has 95 days worth of energy left. According to Energy Minister Auttapol Rikpiboon, it is looking for additional sources of natural gas, including from Australia, the United States and South Africa.

It is trying urgently to reduce the demand. Lalida stated that other government measures to conserve energy included setting the air conditioning temperature?at 26-27?degrees Celsius (80.8-80.6 Fahrenheit), and wearing short-sleeved shirt instead of formal clothing like suits and ties.

Natural gas provides nearly 68% of Thailand’s energy requirements. According to Thailand's Energy Regulatory Commission, more than half of the country's liquefied gas comes from its own production in the Gulf of?Thailand. The remaining 35% is imported, with 13% coming from Myanmar. In the first week of this month, Thailand also stopped all energy exports except to?Laos or?Myanmar.

Lalida stated that government officials were ordered to reduce the electricity consumption in office buildings by turning off lights and electrical equipment when they are not needed. Lalida said that the government will also encourage public cooperation and energy-saving measures like carpooling.

In a press release, the government said that if the situation escalates, it may "consider mandatory measures, including dimming?signs in shops, cinemas, and businesses, and closing gasoline stations at 10 pm." Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Chayut Seboonsarng and David Stanway.

(source: Reuters)