Crisis and opportunity

By Suchada Tupchai

The gasoline price is a national crisis. Yet out of crisis can come opportunity, given strong and decisive leadership. Sadly, at present, with a caretaker government we are lacking leadership. But the chance is there for finding innovative ways that will steer us away from the high oil bills that have always dogged our energy-hungry economy, and will continue to do so unless we take action.
Serious long-term thought must now be given by the government as to the development of alternatives to gasoline. Natural gas powered vehicles must be promoted, and the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Energy must find ways of encouraging their availability and use, such as reducing taxation on cars that use natural gas and extending the supplies to cover all regions of Thailand. There are now approximately 60 stations, and the plan is to have 200 stations by the end of this year. At present there are only around 13,000 vehicles that use natural gas: if this number were to increase to somewhere between 60,000 and 70,000, we would be making progress.
What our caretaker leadership has to do is to convince everyone that better solutions can be found, and have to be found. And of course, every single part of the country must conserve gasoline. We can all do our bit to help stabilize the oil prices. Every man, woman and child in Thailand must be encouraged to think how small actions can cumulatively have a significant effect.
People’s thinking must change. Do not waste anything. Turn off lights. Use public transport. Economize. And be positive about it. If the Thai people are not interested and think this is a passing economic phase, only waiting for assistance from the government, then this crisis will never be resolved.