(7 January) Minister of Energy has assured the public that "shutdown" of Bangkok planned by anti-government protesters won't cause fuel shortage in the capital city.
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The People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) has vowed to occupy a number of major intersections in Bangkok on 13 January as the bid to force Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra into resignation.
There are fears that vital public utility services could be disrupted on that day, but Minister of Energy Pongsak Ruktapongpisal has downplayed those concerns.
He insisted that many petrol stations are equipped with security system, which would allow them to operate despite disruptions caused by PCAD protests.
Only 73 petrol and gas stations in Bangkok’s inner area are at risks of fuel shortage due to transport difficulty during the shutdown, Mr. Pongsak said.
Likewise, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) will not allow the protesters to cut the electric supply during their marches, as it has acknowledged that power supply is regarded as ‘national security’, said Mr. Pongsak.
Nevertheless, Mr. Pongsak also emphasised that the demonstrator who managed to cut off power supply will be prosecuted by law, such as those who disrupted power supply at PTT Energy Complex in November 2013.
According to the Energy Minister, PTT is gathering evidence and will proceed its legal action against those individuals as soon as the ongoing protest is resolved.
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